Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 902 The Misplaced Spirit Boat
The sea of ​​clouds surged and rolled, with countless golden rays piercing through the clouds and mist.

Chen Mu emerged from Fuyuan Cave on a cloud, his robes fluttering in the wind. In no time, he could see the majestic palace complex of Chaosheng Pavilion suspended on Cangming Peak.

Before embarking on this long journey, with no return date in sight, I should at least pay my respects to my fourth senior brother Liang Chong and my sixth senior sister Zhu Xiao.

After all, they are of the same lineage. It was understandable that he hadn't had the chance before, but if he turned a blind eye now, it would make him seem ignorant of the rules. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that he happened to leave the mountain gate, he would have gone to pay his respects to his eighth and ninth senior brothers...

Xuanxing Palace is located to the north, with its palace complex surrounded by shimmering blue waters for miles around. The emerald-green lake reflects the flying eaves and brackets, making it easy to find.

Before long, he arrived at the palace gate and placed his name card in the air.

The first to notice was the young Taoist priest on duty. He was stunned when he saw Chen Mu from afar, as if he did not recognize his identity.

The person before me was dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, with Taoist patterns flowing between his brows. He clearly had the feeling of a Taoist True Lord, but I could not find a corresponding appearance in the list of the Thirty-Six Palaces.

Just as they were hesitating, they suddenly heard the clear sound of phoenix bells from deep within the jade pavilion, and two rainbows pierced through the sky.

The young Taoist looked up, his expression immediately tightening as he bowed in respect.

"Hahaha!"

The voice spreads before the person arrives.

Liang Chong, still retaining the demeanor of a renowned scholar, looked at Chen Mu from afar and called out in a rather unrestrained manner, "Is it Junior Brother Chen in person?"

Zhu Xiaoluo, her socks dusty beside her, playfully patted her Daoist partner's arm with her fan. When she turned to look at Chen Mu, her eyes were already brimming with smiles.

Seeing this, Chen Mu smiled, bowed and said, "Junior Brother Chen Mu greets Senior Brother Liang and Senior Sister Zhu."

"Hahaha... It really is Junior Brother Chen!"

Liang Chong landed on a cloud, took a few steps closer, and reached out to lift Chen Mu up: "We're family, why bother with these formalities?"

Zhu Xiao nodded, her beautiful eyes scanning Chen Mu up and down, their light becoming even more striking: "I've long heard of Junior Brother's talent, and seeing him today, he is even more impressive than the rumors suggest."

After saying this, she stepped aside and gestured for him to come in, saying, "Junior brother, please come in quickly."

Liang Chong also pulled him along, saying, "We've finally met as fellow disciples, let's have a good drink today!"

As Chen Mu was led by two True Lords, he felt cloud patterns appear beneath his feet and pearls in the corridor flickering in and out of view.

In the distance, the faint sound of a zither drifted in, mingling with Liang Chong's cheerful laughter and shouts, which somehow imbued the solemn palace with a touch of worldly warmth.

"Guards, quickly prepare a feast and warm the wine..."

As soon as he entered the hall and took his seat, Chen Mu saw that Liang Chong was about to prepare a banquet again. He quickly cupped his hands and dissuaded him, saying, "Senior brother, please don't trouble yourself. I am only here to pay my respects to my senior brothers and sisters. I will be setting off on a long journey soon. There is really no need for me to go to such trouble."

Liang Chong laughed heartily, "When to set off is not a problem, why the rush?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Xiao gently shook her head and said, "The journey is important, my husband, please don't be willful."

Seeing his wife speak, Liang Chong picked up the purple clay teapot and poured the amber-colored tea into the cup: "In that case, it wouldn't be too much to use this 'Nine Peaks Clouds and Mist' tea to bid farewell to my junior brother, would it?"

Chen Mu smiled and raised his cup at the opportune moment: "I was just about to ask you about the mysteries of this matter."

"Hahaha……"

The three chatted and laughed, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere in the hall.

After several rounds of tea, Chen Mu straightened his clothes, rose from his seat, and bowed deeply: "Regarding Li Bing's matter, I am deeply grateful to my senior brothers and sisters for their understanding..."

"Junior brother, why are you being so formal? Are you perhaps trying to ask for a drink?"

Zhu Xiaosu gently supported him with her hand, the hairpins jingling softly in her hair.

Liang Chong laughed knowingly and pressed the man back into his seat: "Absolutely right, absolutely right, that's exactly right! We're fellow disciples, why be so formal? Don't make me say it a third time!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu nodded and smiled, picking up his teacup to apologize.

The two were then satisfied. Liang Chong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "Junior Brother is striving to break through the profound barrier. Traveling is indeed a good method. But I wonder where Junior Brother intends to go for this first stop?"

This question is the same as the one posed by Senior Brother Qingshan before. Back then, Chen Mu was able to answer decisively, but now he hesitates.

"If nothing unexpected happens, we will have to choose between Lingdu and Xuandu..."

The two noticed Chen Mu's hesitation. Zhu Xiao frowned slightly and asked, "Junior Brother, is there something you're worried about?"

Chen Mu's heart stirred slightly, and he did not hide anything, telling the whole story about the spirit pet.

The couple exchanged a thoughtful glance, then slowly nodded: "This is indeed a crucial matter. Subduing the spirit pet will not only serve as an opportunity to break through the barriers, but will also help you refine your Dao traces..."

"Let me think, what kind of spirit beasts are suitable for both Ling and Xuan..."

Both of them wanted to offer Chen Mu some advice, but the more they thought about it, the more their brows furrowed.

Aside from some rare species that have not been seen for many years or have become extinct, the water-type spirit beasts listed on both the Ling and Xuan lists, as well as various other rare creatures, are mostly kept by major sects.

For an outsider like Chen Mu to obtain it would be extremely difficult...

Seeing their expressions, Chen Mu couldn't help but frown.

If he hadn't known that spirit pets were related to cause and effect, it would have been fine. He figured he could refine the Dao traces quickly enough, but he didn't really need spirit pets to help him.

Now that he knows about this matter, he naturally wants to do everything to the best of his ability so that he can use the power of cause and effect to break through the barrier to the greatest extent.
how...

Zhu Xiao's gaze suddenly shifted, breaking the silence of the room: "Neither Ling nor Xuan are the best choices. I wonder if Junior Brother would be willing to travel far and explore?"

"A long journey?"

Chen Mu's expression remained calm and composed: "Senior Sister, could it be that you have another blessed land to guide you?"

Zhu Xiao smiled and nodded, but her gaze turned to Liang Chong: "If we are talking about places where water is the abode of spirit beasts, then we should mention the hometown of our fourth senior brother."

Upon hearing this, Liang Chong slapped his forehead, laughing and crying at the same time, "Hey, those involved are truly blinded by their own interests, completely forgetting about their own auspicious feng shui location!"

He looked at Chen Mu, then said seriously, "Junior brother, it's not that I'm boasting, but if we're talking about the abundance of aquatic spirit beasts, my hometown is indeed the best choice."

Curiosity flickered in Chen Mu's eyes, and he cupped his hands in greeting, asking, "May I ask where the immortal realm is?"

Liang Chong's eyes shone like bright stars: "The Northern Border, Return to Ruins!"

Chen Mu raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded slowly in acknowledgment.

The Floating Cloud Realm is a vast territory, roughly divided into nine capitals, each ruled by a prominent lineage or a family with a long history.

Beyond the Nine Capitals, there are four border regions, where numerous sects and powerful families exist, yet none can be united under a single ruler.

Therefore, its voice in this realm is far less than that of the Nine Capitals, and its presence is even more indifferent. Apart from those who were born and raised in the Four Realms or even the surrounding areas, very few cultivators in this realm know about the Four Realms.

However, this does not mean that the Four Realms are weak and vulnerable. Although they cannot compare to the True Immortal lineage, there are still many scattered immortals guarding their territory.

For example, the Northern Ruins mentioned by Liang Chong. As far as he knows, there are no fewer than three Daoist lineages with scattered immortals in charge of this realm. The most eye-catching one is the Gonggong clan, which has withdrawn from the ranks of the eight major clans of the Floating Clouds in recent years.

"The Ruins of Guixu is the place where all rivers converge. Whether it is a spirit beast listed on the list or a primordial species not recorded in the classics, you can find traces of it here."

Liang Chongsheng said in a booming voice, "If you go here, Junior Brother, you will surely get what you want."

After pondering for a moment, Chen Mu made his decision. Now that he knew the cause and effect, it was better to subdue the spirit pet sooner rather than later. He would head to Guixu first!

Liang Chong, observing his expression, already knew what was going on. He immediately took out a token from his sleeve, on which was engraved the ancient seal character "Liang".

“Junior brother, although my family is not a wealthy and powerful one, we have lived in Guixu for generations and know the local customs and things like the back of our hand. If you arrive, you can use this information to send someone to guide you…”

Chen Mu was somewhat tempted. Going to an unfamiliar place, it would be incredibly convenient to have a local guide, but…

He had come to express his gratitude, but had not yet reciprocated. Now that he was receiving another favor, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

Liang Chong was quite a clever man. Seeing this, he rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "But if you accept this order, I have a favor to ask of you."

Chen Mu's heart skipped a beat: "Senior brother, please speak freely."

“I have been cultivating in the mountain gate for more than a hundred years and have not returned to the clan. Although no one in the clan dares to offend me because of my clan’s influence, it is difficult to completely eliminate petty people. If you have some free time, junior brother, you might as well do a little to deter others and set an example for others.”

"It's just a small favor."

Chen Mu readily agreed, a warmth emanating from the token in his palm.

How could he not know that this was his senior brother's tactful and considerate gesture? This kindness should be etched in his heart...

The three of them sipped tea and discussed philosophy for about half a cup of tea's time. When the sea of ​​clouds dissipated, Chen Mu got up to take his leave.

Liang and Zhu accompanied him all the way to the top of the cloud-covered steps, watching the figure in green disappear into the clouds, before returning to the palace...

……

The islands stretch endlessly, with waterfalls cascading down from the clouds. Many low-level disciples come and go, beginning their busy cultivation day after day.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a shallow water mark swept across "Qiwu Cliff" and "Shuyu Rock," rushing out of Chaosheng Mountain Gate in an instant and disappearing into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

This person was none other than Chen Mu. Because the Immortal Daoist was also in seclusion to consolidate his cultivation, apart from his fellow disciples, no one in the entire sect knew that one of the sect's newly promoted True Monarchs had already embarked on a journey...

After a half-hour journey, Chen Mu lightly touched the clouds with his toes, and with a flick of his sleeves, a plain-colored spirit boat floated in the void.

The journey is long, and he has no intention of wasting his energy by trying to escape.

Although the spirit boat in front of him wasn't of a very high grade, its speed was already quite fast, which was enough for him to use.

Chen Mu boarded the spirit boat, and then, with a thought, the spirit boat instantly transformed into a beam of light, soaring into the sky and flying towards the direction of Guixu...

Traveling is inevitably lonely, but Chen Mu was already used to the solitude. After a little breathing and adjusting his breathing, three days had passed.

On this day, Chen Mu, who was sitting cross-legged at the bow of the boat, suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of surprise and doubt in his gaze.

In his divine sense, he sensed a spirit boat rushing towards him from directly in front of him, but its direction was exactly the opposite of his.

It would be perfectly normal to encounter pedestrians, but the heavens are so vast, and by sheer coincidence, the spirit boat opposite him was traveling along the same line...

When traveling, it's important to be cautious...

Thinking of this, Chen Mu was about to make a hand seal to dodge when he saw the clouds surging ahead, and a light blue spirit boat, like a black bird carved from ice crystals, soaring through the air, with the glass bells on the bow rippling in circles.

"So fast!"

Chen Mu's pupils contracted slightly, realizing that the other party's cultivation level was definitely no weaker than his, and might even be superior!
In the Floating Cloud Realm, True Lords are everywhere...

When the two spirit boats were less than a hundred feet apart, the jade talisman in Chen Mu's sleeve suddenly lit up, and the restrictions on the spirit boats were immediately activated. The dark light curtain bloomed layer by layer like a peacock spreading its tail, wrapping the hull of the boats into a cocoon carved from black jade.

At the same time, the icy blue spirit boat opposite also emitted a moonlit glow. The moment the barrier opened, a figure in a blue dress could be vaguely seen behind the veil. Clearly, he had the same idea as him and had opened the barrier first, thus eliminating the other party's ability to investigate...

"boom!"

As soon as the two spirit boats drew nearer, the gale-force winds stirred up by their spiritual energy shattered the clouds, and countless specks of light scattered like a rain of stars, making the Nine Heavens Palace appear as if the Milky Way were hanging upside down.

"Fellow Daoist, please forgive me."

Chen Mu lightly tapped the mast with his fingers, and the Xuanzhou veered three-tenths of an inch to the left.

A soft, clear murmur, like shattered jade, came from the opposite side, and the Ice Blue Spirit Boat instinctively moved to the right to avoid it.

In the blink of an eye, Chen Mu, relying on his powerful divine soul, glimpsed what appeared totems on the opponent's barrier, but it was all too fast. Before he could see them clearly, the azure spirit boat had already passed by.

Inside the azure spirit boat, a pair of beautiful, icy eyes were also watching the passing boat. However, unlike Chen Mu, who could still vaguely discern something, she couldn't see through the dark protective shield at all.

The two spirit boats traced perfect arcs in the clouds, like yin and yang fish, head to tail, before turning and going their separate ways.

Neither of them saw that in the burst of spiritual light that erupted when the barriers touched just now, the dark red causal lines appeared and disappeared like venomous snakes...

Silence returned to the heavens. Chen Mu extended his divine sense vigilantly for a long time, and after seeing no unusual activity, he sat down again to regulate his breathing.

Meanwhile, a million miles away aboard the azure spirit boat, the woman in the blue dress suddenly frowned, pressed her hand to her increasingly rapid heartbeat, and whispered, "Just approaching the Eastern Capital is enough to cause me this kind of reaction?"

As blue light emanated from her hand, her heart, which had been pounding like a drum, gradually calmed down.

Her expression remained unchanged, and she returned to her calm and composed demeanor.

Several days later, the woman in the blue dress appeared silently in a courtyard in the bustling city of Dongdu.

The member of the Gong clan, who was comfortably drinking in the arms of his maid, was still unaware of what was happening until the maid gently nudged him. He impatiently opened his eyes, about to reprimand her, when his pupils suddenly contracted, and he scrambled to his feet to bow, saying:

"Young Master Li, I do not know..."

Before he could finish speaking, the woman in the blue dress interrupted him coldly: "Is this the clan message you responded to? Have you found out who it was?"

The Gong clan members nodded hastily: "The cauldron and Dao fruit are rare, and they must be combined with the Great Dao of Water. After my investigation, only the Spirit Source True Lord of the Azure Tide Pavilion in Qingzhou meets these conditions."

"Spiritual Source..."

The woman in the blue dress had her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"There is one more thing that Young Master Li needs to know."

The Gong clansman continued, "This person is not one of us from Fuyun, but rather came from beyond the heavens more than twenty years ago..."

Upon hearing this, the woman in the blue dress's eyes widened. After a moment's pause, she nodded and said, "I am aware of this matter. You have done a good job. You may return to your clan to receive your reward afterward."

After speaking, she moved gracefully, her figure flashing like ripples on water before disappearing from sight.

The member of the Gong clan, however, disregarded everything and, overjoyed, immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly in the direction the woman had been...

……

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and the dark spirit boat drew ever closer to the northern border.

Upon arriving at a dense fog that resembled a curtain hanging from the sky, Chen Mu quietly opened and closed his eyes and strolled to the bow of the boat.

His gaze lingered for a moment, then he made a hand seal between his fingers. A flash of blue light appeared, and the spirit boat instantly pierced through the thick fog of the northern border...

……

(End of this chapter)