Chapter 161: Dialogue

Red Cloud, Zhenyuanzi, and Yaochi were all powerful beings of unfathomable cultivation. Their speed was extraordinarily swift, so fast that it was hardly an exaggeration to describe it as the ultimate speed of the Primordial World.

After a flash of primordial cloud energy carried them through a transformation of time and light, they arrived right outside the Fire Cloud Immortal Palace of Red Cloud.

It was not Zhenyuanzi's first time here, but upon catching sight of the boundless clouds and mist swirling around the Kongtong Mountain range, he still could not help but sigh in admiration.

What an authentic celestial atmosphere!

Amidst the rising aura of spiritual immortals, rare beasts wandered in a scene of complete peace and harmony, bearing no trace of the impending great tribulation.

Bearing the title "Zhenyuan," his role was to pacify and stabilize the earthly veins of the Primordial World. He had studied the intricate paths and trends of the local ley lines here countless times. Red Cloud had once asked him about the layout of the Kongtong Mountain range, but he had always kept his thoughts buried deep within his heart.

Some things could not be spoken of!

In the past, for various reasons, he had reinforced the great array connecting the ley lines of Longevity Mountain layer upon layer, pouring immeasurable effort into the endeavor. Now, seeing Kongtong again, even though he had already achieved the cultivation of a First-Corpse Quasi-Sage, he still felt somewhat inadequate compared to it.

Unlike Zhenyuanzi, whose expression was filled with deep admiration, Fairy Yaochi’s eyes were brimming with delight from the very first glance, beneath which lay a hint of envy: "Fellow Daoist Red Cloud’s blessed land is overflowing with a vitality quite unlike anywhere else. I love it dearly."

While Red Cloud offered some polite and modest replies on the surface, his heart grew somewhat tense, and the thoughts he had harbored before magnified manifold. Yaochi had previously mentioned that her destined opportunity was naturally-born, which meant it was entirely possible that the dwelling she was meant to find was the very same one he already knew of in his heart.

He needed to hurry and take her to find that destined opportunity of hers. Otherwise, if something went awry and she grew too fond of his domain...

At this thought, a subtle sense of foreboding stirred within him. However, now was not the time for his mind to wander.

Guiding the two companions, Red Cloud casually manipulated and opened the protective array above the Fire Cloud Immortal Palace, welcoming them inside.

The very instant they stepped through, every landscape and detail of this blessed heavenly paradise mapped itself clearly into his mind, causing the corners of his mouth to twitch involuntarily.

With a gentle flick of his hand, surging clouds coalesced and dragged the two little attendants, Jinshui and Yaoshan, out from concealment.

The cloud transformed into a fine mist of rain that condensed into droplets and fell upon them, causing both attendants to shiver violently and spring up like startled carp.

"Who on earth dares..."

Yaoshan akimbo, a look of two-part arrogance plastered across her face, but the moment she raised her eyes and cried out an "Ah," her body instantly went limp and she tumbled straight to the ground.

Seeing this, Red Cloud materialized a wisp of cloud to cushion their fall. Only then did the two attendants recover their wits and bow respectfully to Red Cloud.

"Master, you've finally returned!"

As little attendant Jinshui opened his mouth to speak, he looked up and caught sight of Zhenyuanzi and Yaochi, gasping in shock: "Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi!"

"Address him as First Master!" Red Cloud scolded softly with a hint of helplessness, then turned the heads of the two little ones toward Yaochi: "This is Fairy Yaochi. Why don't you come over and pay your respects?"

The two attendants bowed to the left and right before hurriedly scurrying off to prepare tea and refreshments. Red Cloud welcomed their guests into the main hall, where casual conversation soon began.

"A millennium from now will be the time when Fairy Yaochi is formally enfeoffed as the leader of female immortals. Do you have any other plans in mind?"

"For now, I only wish to consolidate my cultivation realm, and then entrust a spiritual treasure to sever my good corpse before considering anything else."

Seeing that Zhenyuanzi remained leisurely and composed, treating Jinshui and Yaoshan with considerable warmth, Yaochi understood his demeanor and focused her conversation entirely on Red Cloud: "Choosing a dao sanctuary is likely to be rather difficult. East Wangong currently resides on Yingzhou Island in the Eastern Sea, which is one of the Ten Isles and Three Continents. If I am to choose a place of my own, naturally it cannot be inferior to that."

"It seems Fairy Yaochi’s target is also one of the Ten Isles and Three Continents." Red Cloud sipped his tea leisurely, his expression calm and unruffled as he said, "I do indeed possess a map of the Ten Isles within my possession. It drifts unpredictably somewhere within the Eastern Sea. Furthermore, the Dragon Clan likely holds the locations of other Ten Isles and Three Continents as well. If Fairy Yaochi desires them, you may travel and search for a time. If more than half the allotted period passes and you still have found nothing, we can discuss how to proceed then."

"Is what Fellow Daoist Red Cloud says true?!" Yaochi asked with a trace of surprise in her voice, pleasantly startled to see that his expression did not look feigned.

Yet upon second thought, some hesitation crept into her words: "This concubine thanks Fellow Daoist first. However, I still have a few considerations: East Wangong dwells deep within Yingzhou Island in the Eastern Sea. If I am to seek a new dao sanctuary, my heart naturally leans toward the region of the Western Sea..."

The Western Sea?

Hearing this, Red Cloud experienced a momentary flash of realization in his heart: within his own memories, Yaochi's dao sanctuary was indeed located within the Western Sea.

After pondering for a moment and sensing the heavenly secrets above his crown, which remained shrouded like morning mist, he mused softly: "Since that is the case, I shall accompany you, Fellow Daoist, to search for it together!"

...

Having transitioned directly from an attendant by Hongjun’s side to the peak realm of Daluo Jinxian, Yaochi still felt somewhat unaccustomed to her newfound status.

After borrowing a quiet cultivation chamber from Red Cloud to familiarize herself with her own power, only Red Cloud and Zhenyuanzi remained in the hall.

By Zhenyuanzi's side, Jinshui and Yaoshan did not feel intimidated at all. Especially active after Yaochi's departure, they buzzed around him like a swarm of bees, calling him "First Master" over and over while peppering him with endless questions.

The little attendants were bright, clever, and quick-witted, their eyes darting about restlessly, though most of their inquiries were subtle probes asking what Qingfeng and Mingyue usually did and what embarrassing blunders they had committed.

Zhenyuanzi answered them one by one until, hearing Red Cloud's somewhat fake-sounding dry cough, the two little ones finally ceased their questioning.

Gazing at Red Cloud seated across the room, Zhenyuanzi wore a solemn expression as he summoned the jade scroll of the Earth Book. A thick barrier of protective light enveloped the two of them: "Our foundations are comparable; why have you yet to sever your corpse?"

This...

Hearing this, Red Cloud pondered for a moment, met Zhenyuanzi's deep and piercing gaze, and shook his head slightly: "The timing is not right."

"The timing is not right?"

"Indeed."

Red Cloud's expression turned quite serious. After hesitating repeatedly, he still could not bring himself to voice his inner thoughts, and could only let out a sigh: "Perhaps when I visit you next time, brother, you will understand the reason."

Visit me next time?

Hearing these words, Zhenyuanzi did not ask any further questions, his expression merely growing slightly solemn.

A burst of brilliance rose from the jade scroll of the Earth Book above his crown, where the three flower blooms flickered faintly and rolling celebratory clouds churned. After deducing the secrets for a brief moment, he erased every trace of the divination completely.

Zhenyuanzi had originally intended to say something more, but after careful consideration, he swallowed the words: "Since it is so, I shall take my leave first. Although I have severed my good corpse through the method of spiritual treasure entrustment, I have yet to undergo the Quasi-Sage heavenly tribulation, nor has the auspicious omen of achieving the Quasi-Sage fruit status manifested. Now that it is becoming difficult to suppress, I naturally need to make proper preparations."

Hearing this, Red Cloud was momentarily left without words: "Do you... need my assistance?"

"Unnecessary."

"Then take Jinshui and Yaoshan with you for now. Once I sever my good corpse, I shall come to find you."

"Very well."