Begin your practice with the crane-shaped stance.

Chapter 121 Immortal Ruins

The Duke of Qi knelt on the prayer mat, accepted the Dao seal, and then bowed to take his leave.

on the way back.

He carefully searched his mind for memories of that year.

Si Xuan did indeed get married, but until the incident of the deposed crown prince broke out and Si Xuan disappeared, there was never any news of him having any children.

"Is this child named Xia Dong really Si Xuan's biological son?" Duke Qi's mind was immediately filled with doubt.

But then I thought about it again, and realized that the Daoist register was personally stamped with the Daoist seal and handled by the patriarch himself.

The patriarch was incredibly astute. Even if there was some earth-shattering secret hidden within, as long as the patriarch refused to tell, there was nothing the junior could do. He couldn't very well force the family's pillar of stability to reveal it.

Since the secret of Xia Dong's background could not be investigated further, the Duke of Qi naturally turned his thoughts to the current predicament of his own lineage.

"I have no sons, only a daughter. According to the strict rules of the court, the title of Duke of Qi and my Daoist registration are about to be lost and my line will die out completely—" Duke of Qi thought to himself with resentment, "Since Xia Dong has not only activated his Daoist registration but is also about to be registered in the Immortal Register and is about to obtain an Ascension Token, why don't I marry my daughter to him?"

Looking for a son-in-law!

As long as the daughter is married off, it will be perfectly logical to tie this boy to the Qi State Duke's chariot.

Duke Qi was well aware of the difficulty cultivators faced in having offspring; the further one progressed on the path of immortality, the harder it became to leave behind descendants.

But what if?

"Over the years, the Great You Dynasty has made numerous astonishing discoveries among the ancient immortal relics that have been unearthed, even devising tricks for cultivating Purple Mansion cultivators. Perhaps one day, they will find an ancient secret formula in the ruins that can help cultivators have offspring!"

A deep pain flashed in the Duke of Qi's eyes as he thought of his offspring.

Unfortunately, he suffered severe internal injuries during the coup and reshuffling back then, which damaged his very foundation and caused him to completely lose his fertility. Otherwise, how could he have ended up in this situation, having to place the family's hopes on a young man whose background he doesn't know?

However, precisely because his physical body was damaged and he abandoned worldly desires for women, he has become more detached from worldly desires in recent years, and his martial arts cultivation has made rapid progress and great benefits.

However, the desire to escape the "sea of ​​suffering" remains like trying to see the moon's reflection in water—unable to find the entrance.

"So be it. Even if I were to miraculously escape this sea of ​​suffering, what good would it do?" The Duke of Qi gave a self-deprecating bitter smile.

The Duke of Qi's mansion has long been the target of the current emperor's deep suspicion, like a sharp blade hanging over their heads.

If he were to break through to that astonishing realm comparable to the Purple Mansion at this critical juncture, he would not only fail to protect his family, but would also immediately trigger the sensitive nerves of the royal family, attracting the court's all-out effort to annihilate him.

His thoughts returned to Xia Dong's Daoist texts. The Duke of Qi calmed down, connected the causes and consequences, and became more and more certain of his guess.

"Xia Dong, who is about to be added to the list of immortals, may not be of our Si family bloodline!"

If one were not of the Si family bloodline, how could one secretly impersonate another under the very nose of the imperial court and solidify this status? The Duke of Qi gasped in shock.

This matter is definitely related to Master Xu from Xuantian Temple back then!

Judging from Xia Dong's age, when he applied for Daoist registration, the Tongxuan Division was still firmly in the hands of Master Xu of Xuantian Temple!

If one is not of the Si surname bloodline, one would not be able to pass the Tongxuan Division's strict bloodline verification if one wanted to fraudulently obtain a Daoist certificate.

Aside from their own ancestor's approval and the affixing of the Dao seal, only Master Xu, who held immense power and was in charge of the Tongxuan Division at the time, could have personally cooperated to deceive the emperor and make this case, which could be described as deceiving the emperor, completely foolproof.

"What exactly did our ancestor make with Master Xu back then?" Duke Qi lowered his head deeply, feeling that the waters behind this were so deep that they sent chills down his spine.

Meanwhile, deep within the capital of the Great You Dynasty, inside a grand and imposing mansion with strict security.

The candlelight in the study flickered slightly in the night breeze, casting a long, imposing shadow of the elegantly dressed figure behind the desk.

The study was extremely quiet, with only the faint sound of water dripping from the water clock.

"What did you say? That kid's Daoist registration—is actually under the name of the Duke of Qi's mansion?"

The middle-aged nobleman, who was casually stirring the tea leaves in his purple clay teacup, suddenly froze and looked up.

The black-clad spy, kneeling before the desk, lowered his head even further, reporting with utmost respect and certainty, "Your Excellency, it is absolutely true! This is top-secret information that our informant in the Tongxuan Division risked his life to relay!"

"Okay, okay, okay—"

"This is getting more and more interesting."

A moment later, he quickly suppressed his smile, tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and asked in a deep voice, "What about the Red Lotus Temple? Ci Xiang died in Lin Yuan Prefecture, what did they say?"

The black-clad spy hurriedly replied, "My lord, you are wise. The Red Lotus Temple is already furious! The death of Monk Cixiang is extremely suspicious. Although the official explanation from Lin Yuan Prefecture is that he went into a qi deviation and died from his body exploding, the masters of the Red Lotus Temple do not believe this explanation at all."

According to reports from scouts, the Honglian Temple's punishment hall has dispatched a guardian deity to Lin Yuan Prefecture, and he is estimated to be arriving soon.

"Um.

""

The middle-aged nobleman nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, several powerful figures in the Tongxuan Division of the capital city, after meeting with the current emperor overnight, quickly devised a plan to deal with the changes in Linyuan Prefecture.

Faced with a newly promoted Grand Master of the Purple Mansion who was beyond the control of the Great You Dynasty, the Great You royal family showed great sincerity.

It was decided that, in the name of the Great You Dynasty, the "Immortal Register" would be officially bestowed upon the Lone Moon Immortal.

This "celestial register" is by no means an ordinary promotion or advancement.

It should be noted that the last sect cultivator who received an imperial decree from the Great You Dynasty and was granted an immortal title was Master Xu from the Xuantian Temple!

The imperial decree sent shockwaves throughout the capital.

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Those nobles and high-ranking officials who had spent years in the world of fame and fortune and whose noses were sharper than dogs immediately took action upon hearing the news.

Soon, the Wenhou Mansion, the maternal clan of Master Guyue in the capital before he became a monk, was unearthed by someone with ulterior motives.

In an instant, the Wenhou Mansion, which was originally just a middle-class family in the capital, became bustling with activity. Within a few days, the area in front of the Wenhou Mansion was filled with carriages and horses, and the entire street was blocked by fine carriages.

However, there are no secrets that stay hidden forever.

Before long, some of the old stories about Gu Yue before he became a nun in the capital were quietly dug up.

It turns out that when Gu Yue was in the Wenhou Mansion, she did not enjoy the treatment of being the most favored member of the family. On the contrary, she suffered great grievances and cold looks, and was even used as a bargaining chip in the family's exchange of interests.

Gu Yue was strong-willed and eventually broke off all ties with the Wenhou Mansion. Disheartened, she left for distant lands and eventually joined the Qixia Immortal Sect.

Once this matter was secretly spread among the high-ranking circles in the capital, the fervor surrounding the Wenhou Mansion, which had been burning like oil, was instantly and drastically cooled down, as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over its head.

In an instant, the wind direction changed drastically.

The once bustling Wenhou Mansion became deserted in less than half a day.

The powerful and wealthy who had sent gifts avoided them like the plague, and even refused to accept the gifts they had previously sent, for fear of being tainted by this bad luck.

Outside the Tiger Hill Cave, the mountain breeze is cool and refreshing.

Xia Dong stepped out of the formation and immediately saw Zhao Ting waiting outside, as well as Xiao Hong standing behind him.

Upon seeing Xia Dong, Xiao Hong's eyes immediately welled up with tears, but she managed to hold back her emotions and quickly stepped forward to offer a respectful bow.

When the two reunited, Xiao Hong recounted in detail the changes that had occurred in the outside world during that time, as well as how she had escaped danger.

After listening to Xiao Hong's story, Xia Dong realized that in the critical moment, in order to protect Xiao Hong, the only "family member" of the Xia family, Zhao Ting secretly used many of the Eagle Wolf Guard's hidden channels and connections, and braved the risk of the Wusheng Sect's rebellion to arrange for her safe evacuation and hiding.

Now that Zhao Tingyi has received confirmation that Xia Dong is safe and sound, he immediately escorted Xiao Hong back to Tiger Hill without any delay.

While Zhao Ting's actions were certainly based on the friendship the two had built over the years, there was no doubt that he was also taking this opportunity to further show his goodwill and try his best to enhance the already strong brotherhood between the two.

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Xia Dong turned around, bowed deeply to Zhao Ting with an extremely solemn expression, and said sincerely, "Brother, thank you very much this time."

Seeing this, Zhao Ting quickly stepped forward, took Xia Dong's arm, laughed heartily, patted his shoulder, and said, "Xueyi, why are you being so formal with us brothers? No need to be so polite!"

Xia Dong straightened up and asked, "Brother, you made a special trip this time, besides bringing Xiao Hong over, is there something you'd like to ask me to do for Master Qian?"

Zhao Ting's smile deepened. What he admired most about Xia Dong was her insight and shrewdness; she understood everything immediately and never needed to beat around the bush.

He nodded and said in a low voice, "Nothing can be hidden from you, brother. However, there's no specific task for Lord Qian. He only asked me to pass on a message—if there's an opportunity, I hope Xueyi can lend a hand to your older brother."

Upon hearing this, Xia Dong nodded solemnly and replied crisply, "Brother, rest assured, please inform Lord Qian that I will always remember your kindness. I will do my utmost to help."

Seeing Xia Dong's composed demeanor, Zhao Ting couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions in his heart.

If it were anyone else, upon learning that they were about to be added to the list of immortals and receive the legendary "Ascension Order" that even the commander of a thousand households would envy, they would probably be strutting around with pride.

With just this royally certified immortal status, Xia Dong's current value in uniting the people is already immeasurable.

What's more, he now has the powerful backing of Master Guyue, a top cultivator who has just opened his Purple Mansion!

"Brother Xia, you are truly unfathomable!"

A strong sense of awe welled up in Zhao Ting's heart. He was incredibly grateful for his foresight back then, knowing that he had truly made the right gamble this time.

His gamble paid off not only because of Xia Dong's terrifying background and powerful backers, but also because of Xia Dong's terrifying nature.

Even after gaining power and undergoing a dramatic change in status, Xia Dong remained completely unaffected by any arrogance.

He still handled things flawlessly.

Zhao Ting was certain that with such a calm and composed demeanor, coupled with his unfathomable background, Xia Dong would one day reach an extremely high level that Zhao Ting could only look up to.

The two exchanged pleasantries outside the cave for a while, tacitly sharing some information about the outside world. Zhao Ting then wisely took his leave, not lingering any longer.

After seeing Zhao Ting off, Xia Dong turned around and, with Xiao Hong in tow, passed through the outer Taiyin restriction and entered the depths of the cave.

"Come with me to pay your respects to Senior Gu Yue first," Xia Dong whispered. "Senior Gu Yue is a Grand Master of the Purple Mansion realm, so you must follow the rules."

Although Xiao Hong didn't understand what the Purple Mansion meant, she was so frightened that she didn't dare to breathe loudly, even though her omnipotent young master was so respectful.

Upon arriving at the cave entrance, Xia Dong respectfully announced his arrival and led Xiao Hong forward.

Xiao Hong lowered her head, knelt down cautiously and respectfully, and kowtowed several times.

Sitting cross-legged on the stone couch, Master Guyue slowly opened his clear, cold eyes. His gaze swept over Xiaohong before landing on Xia Dong. After listening to Xia Dong's explanation...

"Is this your concubine?"

She clearly remembered that the primordial yang energy within Xia Dong's body was extremely pure and intense. That pure yang energy, without any impurities, couldn't be faked; it clearly proved that he was still a complete virgin at that time!

How could a virgin boy who could keep his virginity so well have a concubine at home?

Master Guyue's cool gaze swept over Xiao Hong, a thoughtful expression creeping into his eyes.

She had been preoccupied with the internal strife within the Qixia Immortal Sect, the struggle for the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed, and her own breakthrough to the Purple Mansion realm. She hadn't paid much attention to Xia Dong's private life in the mortal world, and naturally didn't know that Xia Dong had already taken a concubine.

However, this only surprised her slightly.

What truly caught her attention was the pure and flawless primordial yang energy within Xia Dong's body.

"Fortunately—" Master Guyue secretly rejoiced in his heart.

Fortunately, Xia Dong's concubine was only a figurehead; he had not actually lost his virginity.

If he indulges in worldly pleasures and causes his vital essence to become impure, then that crucial "innate essence" will inevitably be tainted by acquired impurities.

Even if the two cultivate together, she will absolutely not be able to break through the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and successfully open up her Purple Mansion.

Recalling the perilous moment of his breakthrough, Master Guyue now had a deeper understanding.

The conditions for opening the Purple Mansion with the help of "Innate Essence" are extremely demanding. Not only must the cultivator be willing and actively infuse it with pure Yang essence, but more importantly, the recipient's own foundation and roots must also reach an extremely high level.

If she hadn't risked her life to snatch that "Sacred Heart Lotus Seed" that possessed the power to create heaven and earth, Xia Dong's innate talent alone would have likely caused her to fail at the last moment.

Thinking of this, Master Guyue's gaze toward Xia Dong became even more solemn.

Xia Dong's identity as a "cultivator" is simply too extraordinary.

If even a fraction of this secret that can help people open their Purple Mansion were to be leaked, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Fortunately, Xia Xiaozi is always cautious; if it weren't for a stroke of luck, he would have even managed to keep it from her.

"Such a momentous matter must not be leaked in the slightest," Master Guyue secretly resolved.

Fortunately, during her trip to the Crimson Fire Mine, she obtained the Sacred Heart Lotus Seed and the Earthly Fiend Flame. Even if the outside world was shocked by her opening of the Purple Mansion, they would only naturally attribute it to those two rare treasures of heaven and earth, and no one would associate it with Xia Dong, a low-level cultivator who had not even reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

In a flash, Master Lonely Moon withdrew his thoughts.

She took another careful look at Xiao Hong, who was kneeling on the ground trembling. She saw that although this mortal woman had low cultivation, she had delicate features and a sharp, wiry quality honed through martial arts.

Master Guyue's light flashed slightly, and he suddenly spoke in a calm tone: "I am currently short of a maid to serve me tea and water. Since she is your person, and seems quite clever, she can come with me from now on."

"ah?"

Upon hearing that this high-ranking cultivator from the Purple Mansion had specifically requested her, Xiao Hong was struck dumb.

She already held cultivators in awe, and now she was terrified and at a loss. Her face was pale, and she stared at Xia Dong beside her with helpless and pleading eyes.

In her heart, her young master was her everything. If he were taken away by this icy fairy, her fate would be uncertain.

Xia Dong's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, shielding Xiao Hong behind him, and said with a respectful yet resolute expression, "Senior, if you need someone to serve you, I will immediately go to a brokerage firm or a wealthy household after I leave the mountain to select the most capable and well-mannered maid for you. Although Xiao Hong is nominally a concubine, she has been with me for many years, sharing joys and sorrows, and is already like family. Besides, she is clumsy and might not be able to serve you well."

Master Guyue's expression instantly turned cold, and the Yin energy around her surged slightly, bringing a suffocating sense of oppression. She stared at Xia Dong, her voice turning icy: "What if I insist on having her today?"

Inside the vast cave, the temperature plummeted, and the air seemed to freeze. Little Red bit her lip tightly in fright, tears welling up in her eyes.

Xia Dong met the piercing gaze of the Grandmaster of the Purple Mansion, a chill running down his spine, but he did not back down. He took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "Senior once promised to owe me three things. Now there are two left—I dare to be so bold as to ask Senior to spare Xiao Hong. This can be considered as one of the things I'm asking you for, how about it?"

Master Guyue did not speak, but his clear, star-like eyes were gazing intently at Xia Dong.

Just as Xia Dong thought the other party was about to lash out and secretly clenched his fists in preparation for the thunderous wrath, the chilling pressure emanating from Master Guyue vanished instantly, like ice and snow melting away.

On that face, as beautiful as ancient ice, a bright and genuine smile suddenly bloomed, like a spring flower in full bloom.

"Xia boy—" Master Guyue chuckled, his tone revealing undisguised admiration and satisfaction, "You're very good."

They are loyal and righteous, and they uphold their principles.

If Xia Dong had unhesitatingly offered up the woman beside him to curry favor with her, a Grand Master of the Purple Mansion, she would have thought that he was cold-hearted and opportunistic.

No matter how talented or profound such a person is, she would never dare to get close to him, let alone consider him a Daoist partner.

Xia Dong was willing to expend an invaluable Purple Mansion promise to protect those around him. This deep sense of loyalty and righteousness truly made her feel at ease, and allowed her to completely accept this young man in her heart.

Hearing Master Guyue's smiling words, Xia Dong's heart, which had been hanging in her throat, finally settled back into her stomach.

He secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He did indeed have an element of gambling this time.

"Sigh, this female cultivator from the Purple Mansion is really too difficult to please," Xia Dong thought to himself. However, he also knew that women, even those with extraordinary cultivation, still have emotions when it comes to certain things. She was testing his bottom line in how he treated those around him.

Of course, putting aside these calculations, Xia Dong was also unwilling to give Xiao Hong away casually like an object.

This girl has served him so diligently for so long, she's practically one of his own now.

However, after this extreme struggle, Xia Dong realized a truth more deeply: no matter what others think, living off a high-level female cultivator is just too difficult and dangerous.

It's not that others are capricious; ultimately, it's just that Xia Dong's current strength is too weak! When the weak are in front of the strong, they even need to rely on "gambling" and "favors" to obtain the right to protect those around them.

In a flash, Xia Dong quickly composed himself, bowing deeply to Master Gu Yue with utmost respect, and said, "Senior, you flatter me. I was merely following my heart; I am truly unworthy of such praise."

The smile on Gu Yue Zhenren's face gradually faded, and her expression became serious again. She looked at Xia Dong, her tone calm yet revealing an undeniable determination: "However, I still need this child with me."

Xia Dong's brows twitched slightly, and he was about to speak when Master Gu Yue raised his hand to interrupt him, continuing, "Rest assured, my request for her from you is not intended to humiliate you. With her by my side, I will personally guide her cultivation. She will be far better off with me than with you. Moreover, given the vast difference in our current status, if there are any confidential messages between us that need to be exchanged, having Xiao Hong handle the communication is the safest and most reassuring option."

Having said that, Master Guyue turned her light towards Xiao Hong, who was still kneeling on the ground. A rare gentleness appeared in her usually cold eyes as she softly said, "Miss Xiao Hong, you are a clever girl. I'm taking you away for your young master's sake."

Upon hearing these words, a hint of struggle and hesitation flashed across Xiao Hong's originally frightened face.

She looked up and stole a glance at Xia Dong's broad back.

Just now, for her sake, the young master did not hesitate to contradict this terrible fairy, and even wasted a priceless promise.

She was so happy to see this sentiment that she almost cried, feeling that she hadn't made a mistake in choosing a partner in her life.

That's why she couldn't just stand by and watch her young master offend the Lonely Moon Immortal, who could control their lives, all for her sake.

Xiao Hong bit her lip hard and finally made up her mind.

She crawled out from behind Xia Dong on her knees and kowtowed deeply to Master Gu Yue. Her voice, though still slightly trembling, was incredibly firm: "Since that's the case, then this servant will serve you in place of you, young master. This servant is willing to follow you through fire and water, without a single complaint!"

Master Guyue nodded in satisfaction: "Good. You are quite a promising girl. You can rest assured that as long as you behave yourself, all the pills and techniques you need for your martial arts cultivation will be provided directly from me. I will never treat you unfairly."

Master Guyue's insistence on taking Xiaohong away wasn't simply about delivering a message. She had a crucial secret matter at hand that required the help of someone absolutely trustworthy and of suitable status.

She was extremely uneasy about entrusting this matter to the disciples in the sect, who each had their own agendas.

Xiao Hong's identity is just right.

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Several days later, outside Tiger Hill Cave.

Before the cold morning mist had dissipated, two figures quietly arrived at the edge of the Taiyin Restriction.

The visitors were none other than Qian, the deputy commander of Linyuan Prefecture, and a monk wearing a bright red robe with a sorrowful expression.

This monk, whose Buddhist name was "Compassion," was a monk from the Red Lotus Temple in the capital.

Ironically, Cibei was always an unpopular and marginalized figure within the Red Lotus Temple, rarely even reaching the inner circle.

Just a few days ago, after learning of Ci Xiang's death in Xi Xiao, Lin Yuan Prefecture, the temple's higher-ups surprisingly issued a decree, placing the heavy responsibility of finding out the truth behind Ci Xiang's death on his shoulders.

Upon receiving the decree, Cibei almost cursed on the spot.

"Such a big matter, and they actually sent someone like me, an outsider, to investigate? It's obvious they're sending me to be a scapegoat and a stepping stone!"

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Sure enough, the so-called "truth" was not difficult to find at all.

After Cibei arrived at Linyuan Prefecture, he made some inquiries and quickly got a pretty good grasp of the whole story.

The real culprit is almost obvious; it is very likely this newly promoted Grand Master of the Purple Mansion, True Person Lone Moon!

After uncovering the "truth," Cibei shuddered in fright, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his robe.

A major overhaul of the Purple Mansion! Is that something a mere peripheral figure from the Red Lotus Temple could afford to provoke? Not to mention him, even if the entire Red Lotus Temple were united, they absolutely wouldn't dare to mess with them!

Upon learning the truth, Cibei no longer dared to have any intention of "investigating the case." He made a decisive move and immediately emptied all the savings he had accumulated over most of his life, even borrowing some money, to put together an extremely generous gift.

Afterwards, he shamelessly approached Qian, the deputy commander of the Eagle Wolf Guard, and pleaded with him until he finally got Qian to lead the way to Tiger Hill.

He came today not to seek justice, but to offer gifts and apologize to Master Guyue.

After the announcement, a crack appeared in the barrier, and Lord Qian, along with the apprehensive and compassionate monk, entered the illusion.

Upon seeing the Lonely Moon Immortal seated serenely on the cloud bed, exuding an aura as ethereal as an immortal, Cibei's legs went weak, and he collapsed with a "thump"—

She knelt down on the ground, her body moving very flexibly.

He held the storage bag full of valuable gifts high, his forehead almost touching the ground, and pleaded in an extremely humble tone.

"This humble monk pays homage to the Venerable Lonely Moon! Your divine power is unparalleled, and you have attained the Purple Palace of Enlightenment. On behalf of the Red Lotus Temple, I have prepared a small gift to congratulate you. My senior brother, Cixiang, has offended me greatly in the past, but he deserved his fate and died a worthy death. I beg you, Venerable One, to forgive my transgressions—"

Looking at the compassionate monk kneeling on the ground, trembling and humble to the core, Master Guyue's cold eyes flashed with a faint strange light, but he did not deliberately make things difficult for him.

Although the cultivation world is cruel, harmony should always be valued.

She knew very well that although she had now opened up her Purple Mansion, and even if no further complications arose and she was able to smoothly nurture a high-grade Golden Core, it would not be good to rely on her high cultivation level to make enemies everywhere and create too many unnecessary grudges.

Fighting and killing are merely means to protect the path and compete for resources; they are never the ultimate goal of cultivation.

"Since you are so well-mannered, I will accept this gift. From now on, as long as the Red Lotus Temple does not cause me any trouble, the matter of Cixiang will end here." Master Guyue said calmly, and with a wave of his hand, he put the generous gift into his sleeve.

Upon hearing these words, Cibei felt as if he had been granted a pardon. His tense heart finally relaxed completely, and he breathed a long sigh of relief, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude.

After leaving Tiger Hill and returning to Lin Yuan Prefecture, Ci Bei did not immediately set off back to Hong Lian Temple as he would normally do on official business. Instead, he found a secluded inn, spread out paper and pen, and wrote down in detail the process of offering gifts to Master Gu Yue to apologize and receiving his forgiveness. He then used a secret method to send the report back to the temple.

He had no choice but to do it; he had to act first and ask for permission later.

Because Cibei had keenly realized that if he relied on the background of Honglian Temple and stubbornly went to investigate the Zifu Grand Cultivation, or if he put on airs and refused to apologize to Guyue Zhenren, he would definitely lose his head!

This Lin Yuan Prefecture is now a vortex that devours people without spitting out their bones.

If he didn't first humble himself and curry favor with Master Guyue, there was no guarantee that some sycophant trying to curry favor with a Grandmaster of the Purple Mansion might deliberately use his merciful life to curry favor with Master Guyue; or perhaps, the hostile forces in the capital would deliberately assassinate him and then use his head, that of a monk from the Red Lotus Temple, to make a big fuss against Master Guyue—

For example, spreading rumors that Master Guyue was extremely domineering and bloodthirsty, and that as soon as he entered the Purple Mansion Realm, he couldn't wait to deal with the Red Lotus Temple, and even to deal with the big shot behind the Red Lotus Temple.

If it really comes to that, he will become a victim of the power struggle among various factions, and he won't even know how he died.

Only by taking the initiative and setting the tone of "harmony is paramount" can he, with his compassion, securely protect his own life amidst this fierce battle of titans.

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Not long after the compassionate monk left Tiger Hill Cave, the red-robed messenger from the Tongxuan Division arrived in a flurry of travel.

This red-clad messenger represents the highest will of the Great You Dynasty and acts with great efficiency.

As soon as he entered the cave, he respectfully presented the treasures bestowed upon Xia Dong by the imperial court. Among them were not only precious Foundation Establishment Pills and several rare spiritual items, but most importantly, of course, was the "Ascension Token" contained in a sandalwood box, which was enough to drive cultivators across the land mad.

Xia Dong calmly took the wooden box and slowly opened it.

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However, the moment he saw what was in the box, his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

This so-called Ascension Token is entirely black, neither gold nor jade, and is engraved with ancient and intricate cloud patterns.

Xia Dong's heart was instantly filled with shock. This token was exactly the same as the black token he had found in the nest of the ghost-faced spider in the Yinling Mine!

The image of the skeleton of a martial arts master at the Transcendent Realm that he had found deep inside the lair, and the last words left on that broken jade slip, immediately flashed through his mind.

The man was an inner guard of the Eastern Palace Guard. The jade slip not only mentioned that the token was a token of the overseas sect "Penglai Dao Sect", but also left a message, earnestly requesting that a destined person deliver the token to the Duke of Qi's mansion in the capital in exchange for a generous reward.

Xia Dong suppressed the shock in his heart and kept a straight face.

Seeing Xia Dong examining the token, the red-clad messenger assumed he was awestruck by such a divine object and thus enthusiastically explained the origin and wondrous uses of the Ascension Token.

Finally, the red-robed messenger lowered his voice, deliberately flattering him: "Commander Xia, ascension orders issued by families of the same lineage are all identical in format. Furthermore, the procedures for you have already been completed, and your immortal status is now registered with the Duke of Qi's residence."

As for more secrets of the court and its background, the red-clad envoy remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal a single word more.

The Lonely Moon Immortal listened quietly, her expression indifferent. She seemed completely unsurprised that Xia Dong had been affiliated with the Duke of Qi's mansion, clearly having already planned it all along.

After giving Xia Dong his instructions, the red-clad envoy became solemn and took out a scroll from his robes that emitted a faint golden light—the very "Immortal Register" bestowed upon the Purple Mansion Grand Master by the Great You Dynasty.

The Immortal Register is no ordinary document; it contains detailed records of the true identity and kinship of the Lone Moon Immortal.

Files of this level, once entered into the archives, become top secrets of the Great You Dynasty. Even the red-robed envoys responsible for carrying out these tasks are absolutely not authorized to peek at them privately.

This celestial register comes in two copies, one main and one auxiliary. The auxiliary copy is subject to extremely strict royal prohibitions. Once completed, it must be escorted back to the capital intact by a red-robed envoy and returned to the secret vault of the Tongxuan Division for safekeeping.

Master Guyue accepted the celestial scroll, but did not rush to write anything.

She turned her head to look at Xia Dong standing to the side, a teasing smile appearing on her cool and beautiful face: "Young Xia, today I receive my ordination, do you have anything to say to me to celebrate?"

Without much hesitation, Xia Dong blurted out flattering words: "Congratulations, True Immortal, may you enjoy eternal bliss and longevity on your immortal path!"

Master Guyue smiled slightly: "Alright."

Having said that, she waved her hand, using her finger as a brush, and wrote her name on the main and supplementary volumes of the celestial register. Then, without hesitation, she added two more names to the column for her relatives and protectors.

With a stroke of the pen, the law was established.

With a flash of golden light, the celestial scroll's instance instantly closed, sealed tightly.

The red-clad messenger received the sealed scroll with both hands, and the heart that had been in his throat finally settled down.

Actually, although today's task of delivering the immortal register to the Purple Mansion True Person was important, the process was quite clear and straightforward; what truly made him feel uneasy was Xia Dong's task of supplementing the immortal register.

The red-clad envoy had served in the Tongxuan Division for many years and had handled countless secrets, but he had never seen a process as outrageous as Xia Dong's.

According to the laws of the Great Netherworld, to be added to the list of immortals and to be recognized as one's ancestor, one must have a bloodline token left behind as the most important evidence for comparison, even if it is just a drop of blood essence or a piece of jade pendant.

However, no so-called bloodline tokens could be found in Xia Dong's case!

Logically speaking, how could such a momentous matter concerning the ascension order and the inheritance of the Daoist lineage of the Founding Duke's Mansion be handled so hastily?

However, the highest-ranking official of the Tongxuan Division personally issued a strict order, demanding that the matter be handled "as a special case" and that the assignment be finalized as quickly as possible.

Even the most crucial step of comparing the tokens was waived. Apart from that, all other paperwork procedures were given the green light in just two days. Xia Dong himself didn't even need to show his face in the capital!

The red-clad messenger knew perfectly well that this whole affair was shrouded in mystery.

It's clear that a powerful figure in the capital with extensive connections is secretly pulling strings behind Xia Dong's Taoist certificate.

But he dared not expose it, nor did he dare to ask a single question.

You have to do the job assigned by your boss, whether you like it or not.

They, the red-clad messengers, are imposing and awe-inspiring in the outside world, but when facing the Lord of the Court, they have no choice whatsoever.

Just as the red-clad messenger finished packing up the copy and was about to take his leave,

"Your Excellency, please wait."

Xia Dong suddenly spoke up and called out to the red-clad messenger.

Amidst the questioning gaze of the other party, Xia Dong picked up the sandalwood box containing the Ascension Token with both hands, turned around in front of the red-robed messenger, and respectfully handed it to True Person Gu Yue.

"I owe my current status entirely to the protection of the True Immortal. Keeping this Ascension Token in my hands is like a child carrying gold through a bustling market—it brings nothing but harm. Today, I humbly request the Envoy to bear witness that I, Xia Dong, voluntarily transfer this Ascension Token to the True Immortal Gu Yue!" Xia Dong's tone was firm, without the slightest hesitation.

Upon hearing this, not only was the red-robed envoy stunned, but even the Lonely Moon Immortal was taken aback.

Xia Dong breathed a long sigh of relief.

He understood all too well the principle that "a common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime."

This Ascension Token is now an extremely dangerous hot potato; countless old fogies are eyeing it with envy. If he openly and honestly hands over the Ascension Token in front of the Tongxuan Division's special envoy, he'll be safe.

Anyway, there was an identical black token lying in his storage bag.

Master Guyue stared at the wooden box before him, a surge of intense emotion welling up in his usually cold eyes.

She had personally explained to Xia Dong in detail the benefits of this Ascension Token, a treasure that could be exchanged for a chance to extend one's lifespan in a holy land, enough to cause cultivators throughout the world to kill each other.

She never expected that Xia Dong would offer up such a divine object to her so readily without even the slightest hesitation!

"Do you know the weight of this thing?" Master Guyue's voice even trembled slightly.

Xia Dong met her gaze and smiled freely: "This junior only knows that without a true master, there would be no Xia Dong today. No matter how good the treasure is, one must be alive to enjoy it."

Master Guyue was very satisfied. She stared at Xia Dong, and it would be a lie to say that she wasn't moved.

She reached out her delicate hand and solemnly accepted the wooden box. "I will definitely find another one for you in the future."

The red-clad messenger then quickly took his leave.

He sensed something was off about the atmosphere and realized he'd seen something he shouldn't have, so he decided to make a quick getaway.