I forge immortality with spiritual treasures.

Chapter 175 Lord of Lingzhao Mountain
That night.

The snowstorm had stopped, and the Milky Way was dazzling.

Several streaks of light traveled across the sky until the shadow of mountains appeared ahead.

Ying Chan heard Lan Zhizi say, "Lingzhao Mountain is just ahead."

He looked around, but all he saw was silence. Night clouds shrouded the mountains like a light veil, obscuring his view so that he couldn't see clearly.

It wasn't until Lan Zhizi descended with her ethereal light and gently waved her sleeve that the night clouds naturally parted, revealing mountain pavilions and forest caves, all bursting with vibrant energy.

After leaving the immortal abode, Ying Chanjiu walked in the mortal world. Although he would occasionally pass through some beautiful mountains and rivers, he had not felt such abundant spiritual energy for a long time.

He couldn't help but perked up.

It is said that although the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain was originally a rogue cultivator, he somehow learned superior Taoist techniques and his cultivation level was among the best of the Golden Core cultivators.

Now it seems that these words were indeed true; otherwise, how could such a foundation have been established?

Ying Chan followed Lan Zhizi and the other person down from the clouds, and then saw a flash of light in the mountains, and a female Taoist priest flew over on the wind.

"Junior Sister Lan, Junior Sister Ruan."

As the female Taoist priest flew closer, her gaze fell upon Ying Chan. Seeing his extraordinary bearing and the magnificent beast he rode, she couldn't help but look on in surprise.

"I wonder who this gentleman is...?"

"Senior Sister He."

Lan Zhizi responded and said, "This is Senior Brother Ying from the Xuandu Sect. He came to the mountain with me to pay a visit."

The female Taoist priest was slightly surprised: "So it's a fellow Taoist from the Xuandu Sect in person."

Ying Chan bowed with one hand and nodded slightly to her: "Ying Chan greets fellow Daoist."

The female Taoist priest quickly returned the greeting and then said, "I am He Qiaoyun. Today, while on duty at the mountain gate, I discovered that the aura of a demonic beast had entered the formation, so I came to investigate."

"I have been presumptuous."

Ying Chan apologized, saying, "I hope you will forgive my unauthorized visit."

"No, not at all." He Qiaoyun shook her head. "Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now. However..."

She glanced at the four-legged creature beneath Ying Chan's mount, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Fellow Daoist, once you enter the mountains, it would be best to put away your mount."

"As it should be."

Ying Chan nodded and got off the Four-Unlikes.

The four-legged creature was also clever. Upon hearing this, it suddenly shook its head, and a flash of light appeared. Its enormous body then rapidly shrank.

Soon, this magnificent beast, which resembled neither a dragon, a unicorn, a tiger, nor a leopard, transformed into a delicate shape the size of a fist.

Lan Zhizi and Ruan Shuixiang watched from the side, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Ying Chan couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly. The beast's claim that it could change size at will was indeed true.

He simply flicked his sleeve, and sure enough, the four-legged creature knew what was good for it, leaping into the sleeve and disappearing without a trace.

Upon witnessing this scene, He Qiaoyun couldn't help but exclaim, "Fellow Daoist, your spirit beast is truly wondrous."

Ying Chan simply smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

Seeing this, she said no more, bowed respectfully, and then floated away.

At this moment, Lan Zhizi said, "Senior brother, come with me."

It should be explained that one should readily accept good advice.

The group, carried by the night wind, landed in Lingzhao Mountain and found a pavilion.

"Please rest here tonight, Senior Brother," Lan Zhizi said. "Tomorrow morning, I will fetch the Geng Metal Essence for you."

Ying Chan nodded.

Having already arrived at Lingzhao Mountain, he naturally wouldn't be in a hurry for this short time.

It was already late at night. Lan Zhizi, having received a response, did not linger and soon left with Ruan Shuixiang.

Ying Chan took a walk around the pavilion and found that the decoration was exquisite, the furnishings were complete, and the surroundings were very quiet, making it a truly elegant residence.

Unfortunately, Ying Chan was only staying for one night. He opened the meditation room, sat down to meditate, and before he knew it, it was already broad daylight.

As expected, Lan Zhizi knocked on the door early, but when Ying Chan opened the door, she looked ashamed.

"Senior brother..."

“This morning, I went to pay my respects to my master and ask for the Geng Metal Essence.”

She seemed to feel that he had broken his promise, and her voice was low: "Master has always been generous, but I don't know why, after I explained the situation, he said that he would only give me the essence after meeting my senior brother."

"Oh?"

Ying Chan's heart skipped a beat: "Does the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain want to see me?"

In any case, Ying Chan had no reason to refuse the summons of the Golden Elixir Master.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to meet a true master?" He thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Junior sister, just lead the way."

Lan Zhizi could only nod slightly and turn to leave.

The two did not fly away, but instead followed the mountain path, climbing higher and higher until they reached the summit. There was a small courtyard there, with a towering tree in the courtyard whose canopy obscured half of the courtyard.

The courtyard gate was not closed. Lan Zhizi led Ying Chan closer and softly called out, "Master."

"Senior Brother Ying has arrived."

A voice quickly came from inside the courtyard: "Come in."

Ying Chan glanced at Lan Zhizi and, noticing that she hadn't made a move, stepped through the door alone.

Upon entering the courtyard, he noticed a Taoist priest sitting under the towering tree, facing the gate.

In front of him was a blue stone, which resembled a table. The tabletop was carved with horizontal and vertical lines, and the pieces were arranged like a chessboard.

Presumably, this must be the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain.

Ying Chan stepped forward and bowed: "Ying Chan, disciple of Xuandu, pays respects to the True Man."

Master Lingzhao simply said, "Sit down."

"Thank you, Master Xie."

Ying Chan saw several low stools placed beside the bluestone, and sat down directly opposite the Master of Lingzhao Mountain.

At this moment, the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain pointed to the chessboard and asked, "Can you understand it?"

Ying Chan looked at the chessboard, initially noticing nothing unusual, but as he looked, he suddenly felt the chessboard shift, as if dragons and tigers were coiled and crouching, and phoenixes were gathering and soaring...

"This is..." he asked in surprise, "South China Continent?"

"Ha ha ha ha."

The Lord of Lingzhao Mountain laughed loudly: "As expected of the newly promoted Southern Dipper talent of the Xuandu Sect, you do indeed have some comprehension."

Ying Chan never expected that his little bit of fame would be known to a Golden Core cultivator.

However, he didn't think there was anything remarkable about seeing a 'map', so upon hearing this, he could only bow and reply, "You flatter me, Master."

The Lord of Lingzhao Mountain waved his hand, no longer continuing the topic or explaining the meaning of the 'Southern Continent' on the chessboard. Instead, he changed the subject and asked, "You came to my Lingzhao Mountain to seek the 'Geng Metal Essence'?"

Ying Chan readily replied, "That's right."

"Alright." The Lord of Lingzhao Mountain smiled slightly. "I grant you permission to use the Geng Metal Essence."

"Not only that, I can also give you seventy-two kinds of Earthly Fiends to help you cultivate the 'Great Primordial Ultimate Image Gang Fiend'."

Ying Chan felt a slight jolt in his heart.

He wasn't surprised that the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain actually knew about 'The Great Primordial Chaos Formation'.

The Xuandu School is the orthodox sect of Taoism in this world. Its Three Merits, Five Books, and Twelve Superior Methods have long been famous far and wide.

The profound techniques of Qi and Sha are beyond the knowledge of ordinary cultivators, but it is quite normal for someone like the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain, who has achieved the Golden Core Dao and is on good terms with our sect, to have some understanding of them.

However... what the Lord of Lingzhao Mountain said was truly astonishing.

(End of this chapter)