Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

……

Half a month later, southwest of Black Water Fairy City.

In the sky, several giant shadows broke through the thick clouds, and cloud boats several miles long descended one after another, stirring up the surrounding spiritual energy.

In the center of the immortal city, several streaks of light traveled upstream and landed on the deck of the cloud boat.

A sharp-eyed rogue cultivator recognized the figure in the escape light. The one in the lead was none other than the only True Core cultivator in the Immortal City, the Black Water True Man who had already reached the mid-stage of Core Formation.

Being able to travel with a real person, the identities of the other few streaks of light became self-evident... Soon, the already bustling immortal city became even more noisy.

"...The Blackwater True Person of Immortal City, the White Rainbow True Person of Yijian Sect, the Chenghua True Person of Muyang Sect, and the West River True Person of the Li Clan... I never expected that Immortal City would have so many Core Formation cultivators without anyone noticing!"

"Ha, you're really making a fuss over nothing. The Star Pool Secret Realm is about to open, and even the nearby cultivation kingdoms have sent many Core Formation cultivators here specifically to escort their disciples to compete for opportunities, let alone the forces within our own country. Just you wait and see, before long, this number will more than double again, more than you've ever seen in your entire life..."

"That's right, see this cloud boat? This is a near-third-tier large warship. Its defensive formation is strong enough to withstand the fierce attacks of an ordinary third-tier demon for several hours without breaking through. With such financial resources, and the ability to have all the True Persons go to welcome it, I wonder if it is the Burning Flame Sect of Liang Kingdom or the Heavenly Sound Pavilion of Xu Kingdom."

"Old man, why don't you mention Ice Cloud Valley of Zhao?"

"Hehe, so you young people are just ignorant... Haven't you heard that the previous Supreme Elder of Ice Cloud Valley passed away three years ago? It's already widely known. But the successor True Monarch has only been a Daoist for less than a hundred years. He may be able to stabilize the internal affairs, but he has no time to care about a small Star Pool Secret Realm... But then again, although this Young True Monarch has only recently broken through, he is still young and vigorous. On the contrary, our Chen Kingdom... sigh."

"What's wrong with the Chen Kingdom? At worst, we can just change the ruling sect. You're really worrying about things that don't concern you."

"Young man! You—"

"..."

Inside a shop in the Immortal City, Wang Xuan picked up the materials he had ordered while listening to the discussions of passersby.

Whether it was the old cultivator's worries or the young cultivator's indifference, he believed they both had some merit.

After all, once the vast Chen Kingdom loses the presence of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, it will indeed be ten or a hundred times more chaotic than it is now. And the first to bear the brunt will be the low-level rogue cultivators who think it has nothing to do with them, but in reality, they will be the first to be passively affected by the chaos.

However, in contrast, the old True Lord of the Tianshan Sect said that his lifespan was nearing its end, but he was measured by the standards of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wang Xuan had no doubt that even if another one or two hundred years passed and more than a generation of Foundation Establishment cultivators had died, that old True Monarch would probably still not die.

If he lives to that day, and is not yet buried, he will probably have formed his elixir by then.

……

The next day.

Not far from a pavilion with carved railings and painted beams in the inner city of the immortal city.

Wang Xuan, dressed in a simple white robe, stood tall and waited quietly.

Beside him, Han Cheng looked anxious but dared not voice any objections.

After a short while, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, Han Cheng spoke in a low voice: "Fellow Daoist Wang, look..."

"Fellow Daoist Han, please don't be impatient. Since Fellow Daoist Yang invited us to go together, even if the time has passed, we should still wait a little longer."

Shaking his head slightly, Wang Xuan said with a smile, "Let's wait another quarter of an hour, then we'll go directly there."

"Well... okay."

Despite his anxiety, fearing that being late would displease "Fairy Chen," whom he had known in his youth but who was now a disciple of a powerful Nascent Soul sect, Han Cheng ultimately valued his friendship with Wang Xuan more.

However, after a short while, Yang Yunzhi still hadn't appeared.

"Let's go, Fellow Daoist Han. It seems Fellow Daoist Yang's memory isn't very good."

Without a hint of surprise in his eyes, Wang Xuan simply gave a greeting and turned to walk into the ethereal pavilion.

It's more accurate to describe it as a garden built within a floating structure than as an attic.

Stepping through the gate, one sees all sorts of rare and exotic beasts, waterfalls and flying stars, and various other strange sights. Under the shaping of the high-level illusion array, they are as real as the scene, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

Even more impressively, cultivators dressed as celestial maidens and heavenly soldiers welcomed and saw off guests, displaying the grandeur of immortals.

This place is an elegant pavilion operated by Wanmiao Tower, and it is a well-known high-end venue in Blackwater Immortal City. It aims to help cultivators relax their minds and bodies after their monotonous cultivation and enjoy all kinds of beautiful scenery.

Wang Xuan had heard of this place before, but had never been here. Today, thanks to the wealthy man, he could experience it for free.

"Senior, please come this way."

After stating the pre-arranged location, Wang Xuan and his companion, led by a waiter, proceeded inside.

The attendant respectfully stopped in front of a pavilion marked with the words "Illusory Moon".

Without hesitation, Wang Xuan stepped inside with Han Cheng, who looked somewhat flustered. The surrounding scenery immediately changed.

The earth was silvery white, starlight shone down, and osmanthus blossoms drifted in the air.

The celestial palaces stand side by side, and enchanting celestial music drifts from afar, as lonely and desolate as the moon palace.

Stepping onto the white jade-carved corridor, Wang Xuan couldn't help but marvel at the mystery of the illusion array.

Even if you know it's fake, as long as you don't use any secret techniques of divine sense, it will be no different from the real thing.

This is just the view from the elegant pavilion... No wonder everyone says that Wanmiao Tower is a den of iniquity, yet for many years, countless cultivators have still flocked to it.

"Fellow Daoist Wang? Why are you only arriving now?"

Just as he was marveling at the situation, a familiar voice came from in front of Wang Xuan.

Not far away, in the center of this "Moon Palace", tables and wine tables floated and swirled.

At one of the seats, Yang Yunzhi, dressed in a magnificent Buddhist robe, was smiling broadly as he spoke to a young man in a blue robe.

Perhaps finally noticing who it was, he quickly turned around, a slightly awkward expression on his face, and said:

"This, Fellow Daoist Wang, it's all my fault. I came in such a hurry today that I forgot about our appointment... I'm so sorry for making you late."

"...It's alright."

Without lingering, Wang Xuan's gaze lingered on Yang Yunzhi for a moment before turning to the blue-robed cultivator beside him.

He sensed a surge of mana from the other party, indicating a mid-Foundation Establishment stage cultivation level.

He could see through Yang Yunzhi's little scheme. However, arriving a moment later actually aligned with his own thoughts.

To Wang Xuan's surprise, he arrived a little late but didn't see Chen Wanrou there. Instead, he was greeted by a strange Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Yang, may I ask who this gentleman is...?"

"—I apologize for keeping you waiting, fellow Daoists."

Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xuan heard soft footsteps behind him.

Turning around, the newcomer was dressed in a lotus-white dress, and her features were vaguely familiar, but she exuded a more gentle and elegant aura.

It must be said that compared to Chen Yao's sharp and lively demeanor, her cousin, who was once a princess in the mortal realm, has indeed inherited a lot of "royal bearing".

Even with her exquisite and perfect appearance, she doesn't give off a sense of distance; instead, she makes people feel approachable.

"The division commander had an urgent matter and was delayed for a moment. Thank you for your courtesy, Wanrou."

With a faint smile on her lips, Chen Wanrou's beautiful eyes swept over the two latecomers.

Even before meeting him today, she had inquired about these former "fellow townsmen," so Han Cheng's slightly weathered face was not unexpected, but Wang Xuan was different.

Generally speaking, the appearance of a Foundation Establishment cultivator is related to the age at which they break through to Foundation Establishment. Those who successfully establish their foundation around the age of forty will generally have the appearance of an ordinary person around thirty.

But at this moment, of the four former fellow villagers present, only she and Wang Xuan remained unchanged, as if the years had not diminished them.

"Ahem, Junior Sister Chen, please take a seat quickly."

"I know my junior sister means well, making excuses for these two punctual people. However, while it is good to cherish old friendships, it can easily make people feel neglected."

On the high platform, the young man in the blue robe with a cold expression suddenly spoke.

He glanced at Wang Xuan and the other man, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

As far as he knew, Master Chen, who was sent by Tianyin Pavilion to escort the disciples, had already gone out to visit friends early in the morning and was not in the city at all, so how could he have given any instructions?

"Junior Sister Chen is too kind. She deliberately waited for these two to arrive before coming..." the young man in the blue robe thought to himself as he continued.

"So that you two fellow Daoists may know, I am Fang Heng, a true disciple of the Yi Jian Sect, originally from An Zhao Prefecture of Chen State. However, I was fortunate enough to meet my master when I was young, and thus I did not have to participate in the examination by the Nan Hua Sect's Spirit Patrol Envoy."

"In a way, I'm practically a fellow townsman with you all, and as a sect of the Xu Kingdom, my Yi Jian Sect has always revered the Tianyin Pavilion... Surely you fellow Daoists won't mind that I came uninvited?"

"Of course not!"

Yang Yunzhi spoke first, his smile warm and eager.

"I'm sure Fellow Daoist Wang and Fellow Daoist Han won't mind. It's my honor that you're here."

He had heard of Fang Heng's name long ago.

Over the past few years, he has represented the Yijian Sect in several battles against the Zhao family disciples, winning more often than losing. He is a well-known Core Formation seed, and his status is no less than that of Lu Qingyi.

This trip, being able to meet such a person, will definitely be of great benefit to him in the future.

Even if it's just borrowing a name, it can help him salvage some of his reputation within the Lu family.

……