Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 894 The Xue Family of Yundu
"The fish is hooked."

Murong Xi smiled, her fingers flashing with a sudden burst of light, and the light stream in the law rift instantly stretched into a full moon arc.

Countless clouds condensed from the void, piecing together the shape of a cloud and water sword in mid-air. Then, the sound of a spring echoed from the crack, and the beam of light began to retract and rise little by little.

Both Murong Xi herself and Chen Mu, who was watching from the sidelines, stared wide-eyed at the source of the rift.

After a few breaths, the entire beam of light emerged, its end leading to a drifting rain cloud. Within the cloud, countless fine water ripples could be clearly seen floating and sinking, converging into a faint dragon shape.

Murong Xi was overjoyed and quickly used her brush to disperse the light and capture the Dao trace in front of her.

After the clouds dispersed slightly, the Dao traces revealed their true form.

Its overall shape resembles a seven-foot-long piece of plain silk, with starlight-like raindrops flowing across the misty silk, like embroidery threads.

Moreover, each fold contains the secrets of the tides, and the scattered cloud-like wisps at the edges transform into water crystals shaped like swimming fish, scattering tiny rainbow lights as they sway their tails.

The entire silk gauze reflected the misty vapor of the star field, and the suspended stardust, after being moistened, bloomed into lotus-shaped ripples in the void...

Chen Mu's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but look at Murong Xi.

Indeed, this is a rare opportunity in this world. This Dao trace is perfectly suited to the category of clouds and water. Isn't this exactly what Murong Xi just said about the workings of fate?

"Congratulations, Senior Sister! You are blessed with good fortune and will surely be able to break through several barriers in succession!"

What is being referred to here is, of course, the nine profound gates in the first realm of seeking the Dao.

Murong Xi was clearly in a very good mood, with a faint golden light shining in the corner of her eye, and the white ribbon swaying gently with her movements.

She bowed solemnly, the water ripples on her skirt reflecting the starry sky: "Thank you for your help this time, junior brother."

Chen Mu raised his hand in a gesture of support and said with a light laugh, "Senior Sister, there's no need for thanks. We've both gotten what we wanted."

Murong Xi nodded, then said no more. Her wide sleeves billowed like waves, and the sword shadow suddenly transformed into a vessel.

Then the white silk crumbled into a sky full of mist and rain, but when it touched the sword shadow, it reassembled into a cloud of dragons.

As the last wisp of cloud disappeared into the sword's shadow, the sound of gentle spring rain echoed throughout the entire star field.

Among the floating water lily petals, one can vaguely see ancient cloud and water totems rising from the clouds.

At this moment, the ribbon in Murong Xi's hair was covered with dewdrops. As she raised her hand to wipe them away, a drop of spring rain imbued with Daoist charm landed on the cinnabar mark between her brows...

After dispelling their Dao traces, the two did not linger. Their divine sense avatars instantly rushed out of the starry sky, then ignored the many figures in the upper levels and returned to their original forms.

In an instant, as the two opened their eyes and stood up, the world around them became as still as water.

But the silence lasted only a moment, followed by a cacophony like that of a bustling marketplace.

"The Chaosheng Pavilion has come out!"

A scream shattered the silence, and the sea of ​​clouds churned like boiling water, the drifting clouds breaking into scattered, chaotic pieces that fell in a flurry.

Hundreds of divine senses clashed and crashed into the afterimage of the star wall, their cacophony of voices accompanied by the radiant light of various spiritual treasures.

"Who got the dragon this time?"

"Who else could it be? It's naturally the Cloud Nether Sword Master!"

"That's not necessarily true. Didn't you hear what True Monarch Guanxing said earlier? Compared to Sword Master Yunming, he prefers that cultivator from the outside world..."

"Anyway, I'm betting on that giant dragon that the cultivator from the outside world caught..."

"Hey, old friend, I've been watching you for a while now. You always gamble with that old man with the white beard, what's going on this time...?"

"Nonsense, I was completely bewildered by the previous losses. Although I hate to admit it, that old man is definitely skilled. This is the last match, how could I be stupid enough to try and recoup my losses..."

Such opinions constituted the majority of the nearly ten thousand cultivators.

Most of them were minor disciples of various sects or independent cultivators. They had no chance to associate with the prominent figures in the Taixu Pavilion, nor were they bound by any sect. Most of them stopped here with the intention of watching the excitement.

However, pearls occasionally appear amidst the turbulent waves, and there are still a few people with extraordinary vision mixed in with the crowd.

On the deck of a spirit boat engraved with cloud patterns, two cultivators sat facing each other, sipping tea.

Among them, the cultivator in the green robe gazed at the figure in plain robes chatting and laughing with his fellow disciples in the distance, his five fingers unconsciously rubbing the teacup in his hand, a hint of admiration appearing in his eyes.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged cultivator with a short beard immediately understood and smiled, "Brother Xue, with that expression, could it be that you're looking for a suitable son-in-law for the Xue family again?"

The man in the blue robe was named Xue Qi, but he was a member of the Xue family, whose influence extended throughout the Nine Capitals of Floating Clouds.

Xue Qi didn't take his friend's teasing to heart, and lightly swirled the fine wine in his cup, saying, "If this young man can truly seize an opportunity in this great struggle, I'm afraid even my Xue family might not be worthy of his attention..."

"Hahaha!"

The man opposite him clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Brother Xue is too modest. Who doesn't know that seven out of ten spirit boats in the Floating Cloud Realm come from the Xue family? Let alone a Nascent Soul talent who is not even as good as a True Monarch, even a Dao Lord would be tempted. How could it be as you say?"

This statement is indeed true.

Although the Xue family of Yundu lacked a lineage of true immortals, they wove a vast and intricate web of interests in the Floating Cloud Realm through generations of intermarriage and alliances.

This is precisely why, although various forces covet the immensely wealthy Lingzhou industry, no one has dared to make any rash moves.

After all, no one knows how many hidden connections those Xue family members who married into various factions or married numerous other women could influence at crucial moments.

In terms of actual influence, this merchant family even surpasses established sects like Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion.

Any normal person would find it impossible to refuse such an opportunity—to possess immense wealth and marry the beautiful and talented eldest daughter of the Xue family.

Unless one is an ascetic who has vowed to sever all worldly ties, otherwise...

"Thank you for your kind words, fellow Daoist."

Xue Qi smiled as he raised his cup and gently clinked it against the other man's: "Brother Wu, you are also a cultivator from Dongdu. I would appreciate it if you could introduce us later. Whether it works out or not is another matter, but I do wish to make your acquaintance."

"It's easy to talk about."

The monk surnamed Wu drank the cold tea in his cup in one gulp.

As the deacon elder of the Shenghua Sect in Dongdu stationed here, it was only his duty to strike up conversations with the core disciples of various sects; he was merely going with the flow at this moment…

While the cultivators were preoccupied with their own thoughts, Chen Mu and Murong Xi had already completed their fellow disciple greetings.

"what?"

"Did True Lord Murong obtain the Great Dragon?"

The question that True Lord Xuan Ye blurted out revealed the astonishment in everyone's hearts.

They were clearly influenced by Guan Xingzi, and more or less favored Chen Mu.

Upon hearing this, Murong Xi raised her eyebrows and feigned anger: "Xuan Ye, what do you mean by that?"

Xuan Ye Zhenjun knew she was joking, but he still bowed respectfully and apologized repeatedly.

This behavior drew laughter from his fellow disciples, which eased the awkward atmosphere from before.

It's not surprising that they changed so quickly; their behavior when Guan Xingzi came out was just too intriguing.

The arrogant True Lord sighed repeatedly as soon as he appeared: "True Man Chen's talent is the only one I have ever seen in my life. I am no match for him..." After saying that, he bowed deeply in the direction of Taixu Pavilion and turned into a stream of light and disappeared, leaving everyone in the audience confused and bewildered.

But if the First True Lord of the Three Capitals within a Thousand Years makes such a comment, who wouldn't imagine something after hearing it?

Only after hearing the definite news did they calm down.

Indeed, even if Master Chen is exceptionally talented, he has not yet advanced to the level of True Lord. How could Heaven's favor take these things into consideration?

However, when the news reached Yunhai, it inevitably caused widespread mourning.

Especially those gamblers who endured the entire game only to change their minds at the last minute are now pounding their chests in despair, almost weeping blood, feeling as if their hearts and bones are being ripped out...

In the Taixu Pavilion, because Daoist Jinmu Yuan had already left his seat, the atmosphere was unusually quiet, and there was no sign of mutual sarcasm as one might have imagined.

Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion caught a dragon, and regardless of what the other sects thought, they would not lose their composure on the surface and would offer their congratulations in a peaceful manner.

But then again, it was just a fifth-tier banquet. Which of the ancient lineages present hadn't once held sway over the world?

It's just the cycle of fate, and this time it's the turn of Bi Chao...

The dragon has departed, and the banquet is drawing to a close.

The cultivators on the Fishing Dragon Platform rose one after another, and the thousand-foot cloud vortex gradually calmed down.

Aside from a few arrogant individuals and those who were truly unlucky, most cultivators gained something.

Among them, the sixth son of Kunling Houshi was the most eye-catching. Not to mention that he was favored by the Dao Lord, the six fifth-order Dao traces he obtained alone caused envious voices to rise in the sea of ​​clouds.

Don't underestimate this number. In ordinary times, it would take three to five decades to gather such an opportunity.

Now that's good, with this achievement, he can probably focus on his secluded cultivation for a long time.

This is also what many cultivators in the Cloud Sea envy. Being in a prestigious sect, even without the extra care of a master, one can still accumulate enough resources for cultivation simply by relying on the Fishing Dragon Platform during the flood season.

Unlike these drifting duckweed, who spend their days striving for Dao traces and spiritual materials...

Of course, very few people have achieved such great success as him. According to Chen Mu's inquiry, among the fellow disciples of Chaosheng Pavilion, only Xuan Ye Zhenjun was on par with him, while the rest were mostly three or four in number.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, have you gained anything this time?"

Upon seeing the late-arriving Daoist Changsheng, Chen Mu took the lead in bowing and inquiring with a smile.

The Immortal Daoist bowed respectfully, seemingly embarrassed, and chuckled, "I cannot compare to my fellow Daoists; I only possess a suitable Dao trace."

That's what he said, but everyone could see a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

True Monarch Xuan Ye laughed loudly, "The essence of Dao traces lies in their compatibility. Junior Brother has obtained this opportunity, and breaking through to the next realm will be just around the corner!"

This remark drew nods of agreement from the crowd.

The fellow cultivators were already generous with their goodwill towards this budding immortal who was about to manifest his Dao fruit, and their praises at this moment were even more enthusiastic than when they congratulated Chen Mu on his rise to fame.

The warm mist on the cloud platform made the expressions on everyone's faces even more distinct.

Compared to Chen Mu, who suddenly appeared and surpassed all other cultivators, it was indeed their fellow disciple from the same lineage, with whom they spent every day, who made them feel closer and more hopeful...

A moment later, after all the members of Chaosheng Pavilion had gotten up and put away their poles, the group gracefully descended.

Having each gained something, they no longer had the desire to linger outside, but only wanted to return to the mountain as soon as possible so that they could transform all their gains into their own spiritual practice.

Clearly, they were not the only ones who shared the same idea. By the time they reached the top of the Taixu Pavilion, everyone except for Jinmu Yuan, Guan Xingzi, and others who had left earlier had already arrived.

It was the white-haired elder from the Nine Luminaries Star Pivot Palace who first stood up and spoke: "The younger generation is truly formidable! The Azure Tide's fortune is long-lasting. Judging from the young friend Murong's mastery of the Great Dragon's form, he is quite reminiscent of the style of your sect's True Lord He Yan in his prime!"

This statement immediately garnered support from many traditional schools of thought.

As for how much sincerity they had in their hearts, that remains unknown.

After another round of pleasantries, the white-haired old man finally announced the end of the Dragon Fishing Banquet: "On behalf of the Nine Luminaries Star Pivot Palace, I congratulate you all on achieving your wishes. May all the traces of the Dao here become the steps for you to inquire about the Heavenly Palace..."

After he finished speaking, countless starlight flew out from his sleeves and intertwined with the four ancient seal characters "Dao Yun Chang Long" on the dome of Taixu Pavilion.

From this point on, the Taixu Dragon Fishing Banquet officially came to an end. The Taixu Pavilion will not be demolished, but will instead, like these four ancient seal characters, symbolize the prosperity of those who participated in the banquet...

Before the starlight had even faded, dozens of streaks of light had already streaked through the air and disappeared. These were all people in a hurry who had already bid farewell to their acquaintances and were just waiting for the white-haired old man to leave.

Some people who wanted to make connections also began to frequent such places, most of whom walked towards the Chaosheng Pavilion seats with proper etiquette.

Whether it was Murong Xi, who won the dragon, or Chen Mu, who persevered to the end, they were both people they wanted to befriend.

Chen Mu and his companion had no such intentions, but since Daoist Muji was chatting with fellow Daoists from the Taiyin Si Clan, they couldn't very well get up and leave. They could only politely decline in their own ways.

And look at Murong Xi sitting upright in front of the jade table, her slender fingers gently stroking the green jade cup on the table, her eyes revealing a detached demeanor.

Chen Mu lowered his eyes and entered a meditative state, a barrier of pure energy appearing around him...

During this time, Xue Qi also followed the elders of Shenghua Sect to the Xuanji Jade Platform at the top of Taixu Pavilion.

The cultivator surnamed Wu's gaze swept across the courtyard filled with starlight, then suddenly gestured towards the southeast corner, "Brother Luo!"

The cultivator in the brocade robe turned around in response; it was none other than Luo Yunshen, the steward of the Biluo Chaosheng Pavilion Immortal City.

Upon seeing his old friend, the man smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu certainly knows how to pick his time, making sure to return to the Immortal City at this hour."

Upon hearing his reply, the man surnamed Wu led Xue Qi forward, cupped his hands, and said, "You've only been back for a short time, but thankfully you didn't miss this grand feast."

Luo Yun smiled and nodded, gazing at the figure in blue behind him, a guess forming in his mind: "Who is this?"

Without waiting for an introduction, Xue Qi greeted him with great respect: "Lord Luo, I am Xue Qi."

The man surnamed Wu added, "Brother Xue is the eldest grandson of the second branch of the Xue family. He has been traveling through the Nine Capitals and has just arrived here. He wishes to make the acquaintance of Master Chen from your esteemed residence..."

"Oh?"

Luo Yunshen's expression turned serious, and a general outline of the Xue family of Yundu came to mind.

The Xue family is divided into three branches. Logically, given the complex kinship ties, they should have split up, but under the leadership of the eldest branch, they are remarkably united.

The second branch of the family is slightly less powerful than the first branch, but it has been gaining momentum in recent years. With their ancestor having reached the level of a wandering immortal, he cannot afford to be disrespectful.

Thinking of this, he bowed and said, "So it is Fellow Daoist Xue. Three years ago, when your esteemed mansion's cloud boat passed through, Daoist Muji praised the Xue family's weapon-forging skills."

Xue Qi didn't take it to heart and smiled slightly: "Would it be convenient for True Lord Luo to introduce me?"

Luo Yunshen did not rush to answer, thinking to himself, "The Xue family has always been known for befriending talented individuals from all over the world. Perhaps their arrival is also motivated by a desire to find a son-in-law..."

He pondered for a moment, then realized he couldn't make the decision on his own, so he said, "I can convey the message; please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Xue."

Xue Qi did not urge him. He watched as the other party turned and walked towards Chen Mu. After whispering a few words to him, he waved in this direction.

The man surnamed Wu was overjoyed: "It has to be the Xue family name!"

In that short span of time, he had already witnessed too many of his fellow practitioners being turned away by Chen Mu. Apart from the Taiyin Si clan, Xue Qi was the only one who had made him open his eyes...

……

(End of this chapter)