Chapter 160: Returning to the Primordial World

Red Cloud and Zhenyuanzi stood in the distance, watching the heavy doors of the Zixiao Palace slowly close. Then, chaotic Qi surged forth, completely submerging the palace within the primal chaos.

Yaochi stood there in silence for quite a while, sensing that a faint connection still remained between her and the Zixiao Palace. Although she could no longer find her way back directly, this subtle tether brought her a measure of comfort.

A moment later, she gathered her thoughts and looked toward Red Cloud, a light smile playing on her lips, tinged with a childlike innocence:

"Fellow Daoist Red Cloud, you are truly a man of your word."

"Indeed... Fairy Yaochi..."

Red Cloud offered a somewhat dry laugh, his tone carrying a trace of awkwardness. It was not because he was particularly reserved, but rather because the being addressing him as "Fellow Daoist" with the demeanor of a mature adult possessed the face of a young child—resembling one of the four little attendants, Clear Breeze, Bright Moon, Near Water, and Distant Mountain. That he managed to keep a straight face without injuring himself internally was already a remarkable feat.

*Fairy Yaochi...*

Hearing this form of address, Yaochi’s bright eyes flickered slightly. It seemed to be the first time she had ever been called thus, and she found it remarkably fitting.

However, as she stepped forward and looked down at her own small hands and feet, a slight frown creased her brow.

With a quick thought, a radiant glow rippled across her phoenix-headed crutch. In the blink of an eye, her stature shifted, transforming into that of a graceful maiden of about eighteen years of age.

On her feet, she still wore those dainty embroidered shoes, while delicate gold and silver rings adorned her wrists and ankles, serving as exquisite accessories. A single hairpin casually secured her hair, and she was draped in a garment of shimmering, seven-colored iridescent light.

Truth be told, whether judged by the aesthetic standards of Red Cloud and Zhenyuanzi or those of all living beings in the Primordial World, her appearance was undeniably peerless.

However, the seven-colored iridescent gown she wore was slightly different from its original form.

This treasure had originally been an innate spiritual treasure she discovered while wandering through the Primordial World, born from a cloud spirit that had perished beneath a heavenly tribulation. Such cloud spirits were exceedingly rare; throughout his countless travels across the Primordial World, Red Cloud could count the ones he had seen on one hand.

Originally, the seven-colored iridescent gown should have been a single entity, but the heavenly tribulation had split it into two. Yet now, this gown had long since been restored to its original state, fused back into one.

Moreover, the aura emanating from it was no longer that of an ordinary spiritual treasure; it felt very much like a supreme innate spiritual treasure!

"Is Fellow Daoist admiring this iridescent gown?"

Noticing Red Cloud's expression and seeming to read the thoughts in his eyes, Yaochi blinked twice and explained:

"After we exchanged garments, a crane in the Zixiao Palace caught sight of them and helped us merge them into one. When Haotian saw how much I liked it, he chose not to contend with me for it."

Hearing this, Red Cloud understood the situation internally, yet he could not help feeling a twinge of wariness.

He fancied that merging the garments would have been a rather troublesome affair, yet he had not expected the crane within the Zixiao Palace to possess such profound cultivation.

Not wishing to dwell on the matter any longer, Red Cloud went straight to the point:

"Fairy Yaochi, you mentioned earlier that you had an important matter to discuss with me. May I ask what exactly this matter is?"

This...

Hearing this, Yaochi did not reply immediately. Instead, she cast a glance at Zhenyuanzi. Seeing the deep bond between the two, she hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"Fellow Daoist only knows that I have obtained this phoenix-headed crutch and been designated as the leader of female immortals. Yet you do not know that I have only just acknowledged its mastery, and I am still unfamiliar with it. Coupled with the fact that I currently have no dwelling and nowhere to go..."

*Nowhere to go?*

*Surely you aren't thinking of asking me to take you in?!*

*Although my Fiery Cloud Immortal Palace is extraordinary, it is hardly a place to harbor stray guests.*

Yet, in his memories, Yaochi did indeed possess a dwelling—and a remarkably prestigious one at that. Why would she come seeking shelter with him?

Pondering deeply, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind, and he asked:

"Fairy Yaochi, did... that person say anything to you?"

*That person?*

A chill ran through Yaochi's heart. After a brief internal struggle, she furrowed her brow and laid everything bare:

"My teacher once told me that fate is predestined, and I need not trouble myself over a dwelling or a Daoist sanctuary."

Upon hearing the title "Teacher," the expressions of Red Cloud and Zhenyuanzi remained unchanged, yet a subtle, indefinable meaning flickered in their eyes.

Red Cloud, in particular, thought to himself: *The Sage tells you not to worry about a dwelling because fate is predestined, and yet you've set your sights on me?*

*No, that's not quite right—this is trust.*

After a moment of reflection, he shot a reassuring glance at Zhenyuanzi, and then said to Yaochi:

"Since that is the case, Fellow Daoist can first come and sit for a while at my Fiery Cloud Palace. Later, I shall take you on a tour across the Primordial World so that you may choose a fine dwelling of your own."

"In that case, I am deeply grateful."

Hearing this, Yaochi smiled brightly, her curved eyebrows sparkling with vivacity.

Seeing this, Zhenyuanzi said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a flying treasure vessel out of thin air and invited the two of them aboard.

...

The flying vessel cleaved through the primal chaos and entered directly into the Thirty-Three Heavens Beyond the Heavens, right at the boundary of the Primordial Membrane.

Once inside, the vessel dissolved into swirling chaotic Qi and drifted away into the void, while the figures of the three gradually materialized.

"Is this the Primordial World?"

Yaochi looked at the scenery and the profound Daoist rhymes permeating the space. Closing her eyes slightly and opening them again, she revealed a hint of wonder:

*The aura here feels somewhat similar to the primal chaos.*

"Not quite. This place is the Thirty-Three Heavens Beyond the Heavens of the Primordial World."

Red Cloud raised his hand and gestured, conjuring the mist of the Thirty-Three Heavenly Canopies in the void. Seeing the wonder in her eyes, he smiled and explained:

"This heaven is named 'Dachi,' and it holds many wondrous uses which Fellow Daoist will come to understand in time. However, this is no place to linger."

Hearing this, Yaochi quickly grasped the underlying principles and nodded slightly.

In the blink of an eye, three streaks of escaping light moved with tacit understanding, piercing through layer after layer of membrane barriers as they sped toward the Eastern Continent.

Although the primordial membranes offered a slight resistance, it was well within their tolerance, and their speed was faster than the snap of a finger.

As they executed their escaping techniques, all three instinctively employed supreme divine powers. Zhenyuanzi communicated his thoughts to Red Cloud, intending to return directly to his Daoist sanctuary.

Red Cloud was initially inclined to agree, but a sudden thought crossed his mind, and he transmitted his new idea to Zhenyuanzi via spiritual telepathy.

After listening, Zhenyuanzi raised an eyebrow and readily agreed with a nod.

Originally, Red Cloud had promised the two young Daoist boys, Clear Breeze and Bright Moon, that when they had free time, he would bring them along to play and reunite with Near Water and Distant Mountain.

Now, knowing that Zhenyuanzi intended to seclude himself in his sanctuary until the next lecture, Red Cloud decided to send his two young attendants over to be tutored by Zhenyuanzi.

It was only for a single yuan epoch; if the children wished to return, Zhenyuanzi could easily send them back with a flick of his wrist.

A promise must not be taken lightly. Since he had already promised Clear Breeze and Bright Moon that they could meet his two little attendants, he might as well send them over to have their fill of play.

As for whether this promise would be fulfilled or erased, the ensuing karmic ties would naturally reveal the answer.