The Great Way to Truth, Starting from Jiazi Laodao

Chapter 245 Phoenix Clan Powerful Man, Reunited with the Half-Immortal

Fengqi Mountain.

Within the small world of flames.

Feng Xi took out an object, and with a gentle wave of her hand, a wisp of breeze delivered the object to Xuan Ming.

This is a jade slip.

It is crystal clear and red like jade.

It has a very distinctive phoenix-like style.

She parted her lips slightly and explained:
"Fellow Daoist once helped my Phoenix Clan strengthen the seal, and also gave me and Fellow Daoist Wutong the grace of expounding the Dao. Now that Fellow Daoist has gathered the Three Flowers at the top, my Phoenix Clan has nothing of value, so we can only give you a copy of our ancestors' past cultivation experience as a congratulatory gift. We hope that you will not refuse."

Xuanming was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Although he possesses the memories of the Night Demon's divided spirit and knows some of the mysteries of the great power, who would complain about having too few good things?

With the insights gained from the powerful Phoenix Clan, and by comparing them with the memories of the Night Demon's divided spirit, he will surely be able to see the Void Returning Realm more clearly.

That's why he didn't refuse.

Overjoyed, he accepted the jade slip, expressed his sincere gratitude, and accepted the Phoenix Clan's kindness.

"Fellow Daoist Fengxi, your kindness is deeply appreciated. If you ever need anything in the future, please let us know as soon as possible, and I will do my best to help you."

Xuanming made a promise.

The words were straightforward, without any beating around the bush.

This pleased Feng Xi, who smiled radiantly, her beauty beyond compare. She had specially made a copy of her ancestor's cultivation experience, precisely to befriend Xuanming, to have a good outlook on his future, and to establish a positive connection.

The spirit of the parasol tree also took out something.

It is a piece of ancient sacred wood.

"I am not as generous as Fellow Daoist Feng Xi. This is a piece of ten-thousand-year-old spiritual wood that originated from my own body. I have returned to my original state and transformed into pure wood elemental spiritual wood to celebrate your breakthrough. I hope you will not find it offensive."

Xuanming smiled broadly.

The ancient spiritual wood on the mother parasol tree is already a celestial-grade spiritual object, its value no less than that of a great cultivator's cultivation experience.

"Fellow Daoist is too modest. Ten-thousand-year-old spiritual wood is extremely rare, and to encounter it is a stroke of great luck. I, this old Daoist, will accept such a treasure with great humility."

He accepted it with a smile.

After chatting with Feng Xi and the Wutong Tree God for a while, he presented a book of his insights into the Great Dao of Fire as a small return gift. He also made an appointment to visit the Phoenix Clan after Xuan Yan advanced to the Divine Refinement stage. Then he took his leave and headed straight for Jinghu Lake.

---

After Xuanming left.

Feng Xi and the Wutong Tree God walked into the depths of the small world.

This secret realm was left behind by a powerful figure of the Phoenix Clan. It stretches for 100,000 miles and is known as the Undying Volcano.

The area is dotted with volcanoes and volcanic veins.

It is the Phoenix Clan's inherited secret realm and also the Phoenix Clan's battle arena. Its laws are special and can eliminate various energy fluctuations under the power of great beings.

The powerful Phoenix Clan members are now deep in slumber within.

They chose this location for the battle not only so that the three sides could freely exchange blows without damaging the Jade Beauty Mountain's veins, but also so that the powerful Phoenix Clan could see the true quality of the Mysterious Brightness.

as predicted.

The ancestor was awakened.

In the center of this small world, a volcano connects the sky and the earth, like a pillar of heaven, majestic and imposing, with a grand and majestic mountain range.

Feng Xi and the Wutong Tree God both stopped outside the volcano, not daring to approach any further. After bowing in respect, a sound like the clinking of jade pendants rang out.

“Xuanming is indeed extraordinary. Even when I was at the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top, I was slightly inferior. Only the Four Great Dao Venerables of the past could compare to such talent. You all did the right thing by befriending him.”

Once he achieves great power, thanks to this good fortune, my Phoenix Clan may very well rise to even greater heights.

After giving a few instructions, the powerful Phoenix Clan member, feeling somewhat weak, let Feng Xi and the Wutong Tree God leave.

Not long after they left.

The voice of the powerful Phoenix Clan member rose again.

"My Phoenix Clan has done what it should have done. Are you satisfied, fellow Daoist?"

A flash of light appeared, and a Taoist priest with an air of otherworldly grace appeared outside the volcano. His temples were gray, his appearance refined, and a plump rat with glossy fur perched on his shoulder. If Xuanming were to see him, he would surely be astonished, for the Taoist priest was none other than the demigod Zhong Neng.

A cynical smile appeared on his face as he said softly, "Fellow Daoist Feng Yan, why be so distant? Back then, we were once romantic and made vows of eternal love. Why address me with such formality and distance? Your heartless betrayal truly breaks my heart!"

The sound of teeth grinding could be heard coming from inside the volcano.

The majestic volcano trembled, showing signs of an impending eruption.

A powerful figure from the Phoenix Clan named Feng Yan spoke up: "You old charlatan who deceives the world! Back then, I was young and ignorant, and you tricked me by reading my bones and telling my fortune. If I hadn't woken up in time and seen through your lustful nature, I'm afraid my reputation would have been ruined."

"If it weren't for the immense importance of Xuanming, do you think I would have let you into the Undying Volcano!"

---

The feud between the powerful Phoenix Clan member and the Half-Immortal Zhong Neng was unknown to Feng Xi and the Wutong Tree God, and even more so to Xuan Ming.

Arriving at Jinghu Lake, he took away Xuan Yan Changyao, whose bloodline had awakened for the fourth time, and also took away the Crimson Emperor's Dharma Body before leaving Yuxiu Mountain.

Just as they arrived at Chaofeng City, they encountered a rat demon that bared its teeth and spat at Xuan Yan, enraging Xuan Yan, who then gave chase.

Xuanming followed behind, his expression strange.

This is all because the rat demon is a familiar demon.

Wandering through the streets and alleys, I came to a pedestrian bridge.

The rat demon jumped onto the table and crawled into the sleeve of a Taoist priest. The priest was examining the bones of a plump spider demon, chanting incantations. A piece of cloth hung beside them with the four large characters "The Immortal Points the Way" written on it.

Upon Xuan Yan's arrival, the spider demon, who had been exchanging flirtatious glances with the Taoist priest, changed her expression drastically and immediately left.

The Taoist sighed regretfully, then turned and saw the white-haired old Taoist trailing behind Xuan Yan. His eyes lit up, and he strode out of the stall, cupped his hands in greeting to Xuan Ming, and said excitedly:

"I never expected to see the True Lord in this Phoenix City."

Xuanming smiled and said, "It's been a long time. Congratulations on achieving Qi Refining, young friend."

Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is always a good thing.

Seeing that it was an acquaintance of her master, Xuan Yan suppressed her temper, silently transformed back into an ordinary swallow, and landed on Xuan Ming's shoulder.

When old friends meet again, Zhongneng and Xuanming find a restaurant to reminisce, chatting and laughing over drinks.

Xuanming also learned about the experiences of this half-immortal.

After the Taiping Rebellion broke out, Zhong Neng left Fengyang County to seek refuge elsewhere. He eventually arrived in the south and stayed there for more than a decade.

With the divination skills taught by Xuanming and the help of the rat demon, Zhong Neng quickly rose to prominence.

After accidentally helping a cultivator, he embarked on the path of cultivation. He entered the Dao through the Yi Jing (Book of Changes) and had decades of experience in divination as a foundation. His cultivation progressed rapidly, and with another opportunity, he recently became a True Person and came to this Chaofeng City.

Having witnessed the experience of the blind old beggar Ji Yuan before him, Xuanming did not fully believe Zhong Neng's account. He silently calculated the results, and only when he saw that the calculations were almost identical to what Zhong Neng said did he breathe a sigh of relief.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Xuanming was about to leave when Zhongneng took out a wine gourd, handed it to him, and said gratefully:
"I have no way to repay the True Lord's kindness in giving me a second chance. This is a spirit wine that I brewed myself. It is a ten-year-old pure brew. Although it is relatively young, the taste is still acceptable. If the True Lord does not mind, please accept it and it will quench your thirst on the journey."

"You have a heart."

Xuanming reached out and took it.

Although he knew it was unlikely that the immortal and the old beggar were both reclusive masters, he still opened the wine bottle to check it out, just to be on the safe side. He found that it was just ordinary spirit wine, and he was relieved.

Xuanming tied the wine gourd to his waist and got up to leave.

Leaving Chaofeng City, he walked across the land, admiring the surrounding scenery as he made his way towards Li Zizai's location.

In the restaurant, Zhong Neng watched Li Zizai's departing figure, then smiled inscrutablely and vanished like smoke.

Before leaving, he grabbed a cigarette.

Take away the rat demon that was lying on the table, stuffing itself with food.

Witnessing this scene firsthand, the waiter screamed in terror:

"Boss, someone's trying to dine and dash!"

Chaos erupted in the restaurant.

After the Three Flowers Gather at the Top, the efficiency of Xuanming's Path of Practice increases.

After traveling thousands of miles, he was thirsty. He borrowed a gourd and took a sip of wine, but suddenly stopped.

(End of this chapter)