Starting Immortal Cultivation from a White Dog

Wu Tian remained silent for a long time before raising his eyes to look eastward.

On the battlefield of the Blackwater River, the migrating team of the Heavenly River Sword Sect had already gone far away, and the dragon soldiers and generals, including Turtle Thousand Years Old, had also withdrawn to the direction of Tonghai County City, leaving only a devastated land and a river stained red.

"The Dragon Clan... is it really something that both Buddhism and Taoism fear so much?"

He muttered to himself, a serious look flashing in his eyes.

The fact that someone as powerful as Biluo Yuanjun could personally descend to the mortal realm to issue a warning and forcefully force back the Third Prince of the Dragon Palace shows just how much of a threat the Dragon Clan is in the eyes of the human race's higher-ups.

"Fine, since we can't avoid it, we'll deal with it proactively."

Wu Tian didn't linger. Golden light shone from beneath his feet, transforming into a pale golden rainbow as he sped towards Wuling County.

He needed to return to the Lu family as soon as possible to prepare for tomorrow's banquet.

……

Wuling County, the ancestral home of the Lu family.

In Qingyi Courtyard, on the top floor of the pavilion, Lu Nanxi stood leaning against the railing.

As the sun set and that familiar golden light appeared on the horizon, her tense nerves finally relaxed.

Golden light fell into the courtyard, revealing Wu Tian's figure.

"You're back!"

Lu Nanxi quickly stepped forward, her pretty face full of concern.

"How are you? Are you injured? I sensed a tremendous fluctuation coming from the direction of Tonghai County, which even affected Wuling County..."

Wu Tian embraced her slender waist, feeling the soft warmth in his arms, and a sense of peace settled in his heart.

"I am fine."

He gently stroked her long hair and recounted without reservation the whole story of his trip to Tonghai County, including how Biluo Yuanjun appeared and led him to the blessed land for a talk.

From forcing the Tianhe Sword Sect to retreat, to secretly observing the conflict between the Dragon Clan and the Tianhe Sword Sect, to Biluo Yuanjun descending to the mortal realm to stop the Third Prince of the Dragon Palace, and finally Biluo Yuanjun's instructions and warnings.

After hearing this, Lu Nanxi's pretty face showed a look of shock:
"Biluo Yuanjun... The Tianhe Sword Sect actually has such a powerful backer in the Upper Realm?"

She immediately frowned, "In that case, the Buddhist and Taoist sects are really troublesome. I wonder how many sects have patriarchs from the upper realm."

"Then the Dragon Elephant Temple and the Heavenly River Sword Sect will probably be difficult to provoke in the future."

Wu Tian led her to the soft couch and sat down, holding her in his arms and gently playing with a strand of her hair. "Don't worry."

"Even if we want to wipe out the dragon clan, it's not something we can just do on a whim. Various forces are scheming against each other, and it's not easy to truly unite."

"I will make arrangements, and we will take action in three months."

"Three months later, the situation... will no longer be under their control."

Lu Nanxi tilted her pretty face up, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt, "Three months? What are you planning to do?"

Wu Tian lowered his head and lightly pecked her lips, then smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing and I'll make arrangements."

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Lu Nanxi stopped asking and simply pressed her cheek against his chest, whispering, "No matter what, you must be careful."

"Ah."

The two embraced for a moment, then Wu Tian suddenly remembered something:
"Is everything ready for tomorrow's banquet?"

Lu Nanxi nodded, "Everything has been arranged. The Zhu Rong Clan, the Bai Family, the Tianhe Sword Sect, the Longxiang Temple, and all the major and minor forces in the Southern Frontier have received invitations and will be present tomorrow."

"only……"

A hint of worry flashed across her brows. "It's one thing for the Tianhe Sword Sect to be like this, but the attitude of the Longxiang Temple has been ambiguous. They dare to openly compete with the Zhurong Clan for the Great Snow Mountain, so they probably have something to rely on behind the scenes."

"They will probably make some moves at tomorrow's banquet."

Wu Tian's eyes turned slightly cold: "It's alright. I have my own ways of handling the banquet tomorrow."

……

The next day, before dawn, the Lu family ancestral home was already bustling with activity.

Thousands of servants and maids moved about, decorating the place with lanterns and colorful decorations, and setting up the banquet.

The Lu family's banquet was extremely grand, with the largest hall in their ancestral home, Tianlan Hall, serving as the main venue, and a thousand tables set up in the square in front of the hall.

Each table is made of agarwood from the South China Sea, covered with brocade tablecloths, and set with glass wine cups, jade bowls and plates, as well as various spiritual fruits and delicacies.

Around the square stand eighty-one gilded dragon pillars, each topped with a luminous pearl that emits a soft glow even during the day.

Between the pillars, colorful silks and glass palace lanterns hang, swaying gently in the wind, shimmering with light.

Guests began arriving early in the morning.

The first to arrive were the heads of small and medium-sized families and clan leaders from various prefectures in southern Xinjiang.

Most of these people were only at the Dao Embryo Realm. Dressed in fine clothes and carrying generous gifts, they entered the venue under the guidance of the Lu family steward, took their seats according to the pre-arranged arrangements, exchanged pleasantries, and discussed today's banquet in hushed tones.

Most of them looked respectful, even somewhat obsequious. The Lu family now controlled Wuling County, and news of Wu Tian's feat of suppressing the Tianhe Sword Sect yesterday had already spread. No one dared to disrespect them.

At the third quarter of the hour of Chen (7:45 AM), a clear and melodious phoenix cry echoed from

Everyone looked up and saw a magnificent carriage flying in from the southern sky.

The chariot was pulled by nine crimson phoenixes and was carved entirely from crimson jade. Its surface was engraved with countless ancient incantations, which reflected a dazzling light in the sunlight.

Around the chariot followed twelve Zhu Rong clan guards dressed in red armor, each possessing the cultivation level of a Dao Embryo.

The carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the square. The curtain was lifted, and a slender figure stepped out.

It was Lady Zhurong.

She was clearly dressed up carefully today, wearing a long, wide-sleeved dress with a black background embroidered with gold phoenix patterns, over which she wore a thin gauze cloak. Her black hair was tied up in a high bun, adorned with three gold phoenix hairpins, and a string of red jade ornaments hung down in front of her forehead.

Her face was still somewhat pale, but her entire body was shrouded in magical light, making it impossible for outsiders to see her clearly.

She moved gracefully, followed by two personal maids, and headed straight for the main hall.

All the guests along the way rose and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Lady Zhurong!"

Lady Zhurong nodded slightly in return, but her gaze was already fixed on the depths of the main hall, as if searching for a certain figure.

She had barely sat down when the sound of swords clashing echoed from the eastern sky once more.

Three sword lights pierced through the air and landed in front of the square, revealing three figures.

The leader was a woman who looked to be in her thirties. She wore a moon-white Taoist robe with a light blue gauze over it. She had a tall and slender figure and a cold and aloof temperament.

She was beautiful, with exquisite features, but her eyes were like a deep, cold pool, devoid of any warmth. A faint mist of ice naturally enveloped her, and fine ice crystals condensed in the air wherever she passed.

It was none other than Master Hanxia of the Tianhe Sword Sect.

Behind her followed two female disciples at the Dao Embryo Realm, both carrying long swords and with solemn expressions.

The arrival of Master Hanxia caused quite a stir.

After all, the Tianhe Sword Sect was forced to withdraw from Wuling County by the Lu family just yesterday, yet today they sent a Nascent Soul Elder to attend the banquet. The implications of this are intriguing.

Master Hanxia remained calm, ignoring the gazes around him. He merely nodded slightly to the approaching steward of the Lu family before walking to his seat, which was quite close to the front, second only to Lady Zhurong.

A moment later, a white cloud drifted in from the northern sky.

The clouds settled and dispersed, revealing a group of people.

Leading the group was a beautiful woman dressed in a plain white dress with a silver-embroidered shawl. She appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with fair, snow-white skin, delicate and beautiful features, a scholarly air about her, and a gentle and graceful demeanor.

She was followed by four members of the Bai family, all of whom were at the Dao Embryo stage.

"It's Bai Suxin, the Palace Master of the Taiyin Palace of the Bai family!"

Someone gasped in surprise.

The Bai family has a long history and profound heritage. Bai Suxin, as one of the four palace masters of the Bai family, came in person, which shows that she is of great importance.

Bai Suxin bowed slightly to everyone, then led her clansmen to their seats. Her expression was calm, and she only nodded slightly when her gaze swept over Lady Zhurong.

The Bai family and the Zhurong family have always been on good terms, especially now that the situation in the southern border is chaotic, the Bai family and the Zhurong family are even more closely connected, advancing and retreating together.

Now that Bai Wenxian, the head of the Bai family, has passed away, the support of the Zhu Rong family is even more needed to overcome the difficulties.

By noon, about 90% of the guests had arrived.

The square was nearly full, with a thousand seats, bustling with activity and a lively atmosphere.

Just then, a loud Buddhist chant suddenly rang out from the western sky.

"Amitabha!"

The sound was like thunder, making everyone's eardrums go numb.

On the western horizon, a golden light shone brightly, and a golden auspicious cloud carried a group of people slowly flying in.

Above the auspicious clouds, at the head of the group was an old monk wearing a bright red robe embroidered with gold thread.

The old monk looked to be about sixty or seventy years old, with a gaunt face, high cheekbones, snow-white eyebrows that drooped to his cheeks, and eyes that were half-open and half-closed, with a glint of intelligence in them.

He was tall with broad shoulders and a thick back, and although he was old, he gave people a sense of stability and solidity like a mountain.

What is most striking is the pale golden vertical mark between his eyebrows, which resembles a third eye and faintly radiates a Buddhist light.

He held a string of sandalwood prayer beads the size of a fist in his hand, each bead carved with a miniature golden dragon, its body coiled around the beads, lifelike.

Eight monks followed behind him.

These eight monks included both old and young, fat and thin, but without exception, they all possessed a profound aura, with faint Buddhist light emanating from the back of their heads.

Four of them had relics floating within their Buddha-light, clearly indicating they had cultivated Buddhist relics, comparable to the Dao Embryo Realm. The other four had illusory dragon and elephant figures coiled within their Buddha-light, their power even greater.

The moment the group of monks landed, they immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"It is the abbot of Longxiang Temple, Zen Master Dawei!"

"The eight behind him are the Eight Protectors of Longxiang Temple, each one a master!"

"As expected, Longxiang Temple has arrived. This is going to be interesting..."

The crowd whispered among themselves, their eyes darting back and forth between the monks of Longxiang Temple and the main hall.

Zen Master Dawei Jinlong bowed to the crowd with his palms together, his voice booming:

"I, the abbot of Longxiang Temple, along with my disciples, have come to congratulate the Lu family on their banquet for fellow Daoists from all directions."

He spoke politely, but his demeanor carried a condescending air, as if he were there to inspect rather than to attend a banquet.

A steward from the Lu family stepped forward and said in a respectful but not arrogant manner, "Master, please take your seat."

Zen Master Dawei Jinlong nodded slightly and led eight monks to the front row seats, where they sat alongside Lady Zhurong, Immortal Hanxia, ​​and Bai Suxin.

As he sat down, his gaze swept over Lady Zhurong, his white eyebrows twitching almost imperceptibly, but he did not speak.

Lady Zhurong narrowed her phoenix eyes, a hint of coldness flashing within them.

At noon, the bell rang.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

Nine chimes echoed above the Lu family's ancestral home.

The square fell silent as all the guests turned to look towards the main hall.

From the depths of the main hall, a golden light spread out, and Wu Tian stepped out, his feet treading on the golden light.

Today he was dressed in a black robe with wide sleeves, his long hair was tied up with a jade crown, a few strands of hair fell in front of his forehead, the divine mark between his eyebrows was faintly visible, his eyes were as deep as the starry sky, his face was handsome, his posture was upright, and his steps were calm, he had a majestic air of ruling over mountains and rivers.

He walked to the white jade platform in front of the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the thousand guests below. He smiled slightly, his clear voice echoing throughout the hall:
"Thank you, fellow Daoists, for honoring my Lu family with your presence today."

"I, Lu, have recently advanced to the Nascent Soul stage and taken charge of Wuling. Today, I am hosting a banquet to invite all of you fellow Daoists to discuss matters concerning the Southern Frontier."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the faces of Lady Zhurong, Master Hanxia, ​​Bai Suxin, Zen Master Dawei, and others, his smile gentle.

"After I attained enlightenment, I gained some insights and accidentally acquired a technique that is quite interesting. Today, I would like to take this opportunity at this banquet to share it with you fellow Daoists and make you all laugh."

As he spoke, he clapped his hands lightly.

Immediately, sixteen Lu family servants, dressed in cyan outfits and exuding a fierce aura, carried a thick golden pillar out from the side hall.

This golden pillar is about three zhang tall and as thick as a millstone. It is made entirely of pure gold and has a smooth, mirror-like surface that reflects a dazzling golden light in the sunlight.

Sixteen servants carried the golden pillar to the center of the square and placed it heavily on the ground.

"Boom!"

A muffled thud was heard, and the ground trembled slightly.

All eyes were fixed on the golden pillar, their faces filled with doubt, wondering what Wu Tian intended to do.

Wu Tian walked to the golden pillar, gently stroked its surface, and smiled:
"This pillar is made of ordinary gold and has nothing special about it. However..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling golden light suddenly shone between his brows.

"Om..."

A vast and powerful aura of gods and demons surged from his body, and the Kuafu totem appeared between his brows, flowing with golden light and transforming into countless ancient and mysterious runes that flew out like living things and wrapped around the golden pillar.

At the same time, the phantom of the Heavenly Pillar faintly appeared behind him. The phantom overlapped with the golden pillar, and a terrifying Daoist aura that suppressed time spread out.

On the surface of the golden pillar, dense patterns of the Kuafu totem began to appear. These patterns seemed to be naturally formed, containing the power of ancient gods and demons.

The golden light grew brighter and brighter, eventually transforming into a golden pillar that shot into the sky and soared straight into the clouds!
The beam of light lasted for ten breaths before slowly receding.

Looking at the golden pillar again, its appearance had changed drastically.

It is still three zhang tall and as thick as a millstone, but its entire body is no longer golden. Instead, it is dark gold, and its surface is covered with ancient totems. There is a faint golden light flowing in the patterns, exuding a heavy, ancient, and all-suppressing aura.

It was as if this was not a golden pillar, but a miniature of a divine pillar supporting the sky.

Wu Tian withdrew his hands, stood with his hands behind his back, looked down at the crowd, and said loudly:
"Today, if anyone can move this golden pillar, even if it only trembles slightly—"

He paused, and his voice suddenly rose:
"All the resources, books, and treasures accumulated by the Lu family over a thousand years, I, Lu, am willing to offer them all up without hesitation!"

As soon as this statement came out, the whole audience was in an uproar!

The Lu family's accumulation over a thousand years—what does that even mean?
This is enough to make any small or medium-sized force leap into becoming a top power in the Southern Frontier.

Even Lady Zhurong, Immortal Hanxia, ​​Bai Suxin, and others showed expressions of surprise.

The Zen Master Dawei suddenly opened his half-closed eyes, his gaze flashing with sharp light as he stared intently at the golden pillar.

Just then, a large, burly young monk with a fierce face suddenly chuckled from the seats of Longxiang Temple. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire hall:
"Move it? Heh... What if we accidentally break this golden pillar?"

His tone was dismissive, clearly not taking Wu Tian's words seriously. (End of Chapter)