This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

The moment the spiritual veins formed, Jade Capital Mountain immediately became very different.

Those fantastical scenes became even more magnificent, and a layer of misty glow rose from the 108 steps in front of the Jade Palace.

Upon closer inspection, one can even see the flow of Taoist energy, as if someone is reciting Taoist scriptures over and over again.

Moreover, Qingxu Mountain, located outside Yujing Mountain, was also significantly affected.

As the fine rain fell like silk threads, the vegetation of Qingxu Mountain seemed to be awakened and brought to life.

Some plants that had long since passed their flowering season were blooming again.

Some medicinal herbs hidden deep in the mountains have begun to radiate spiritual energy.

Furthermore, the several large snakes that Zhu Jiu had conjured were coiled on the mountaintops, looking up at the sky, greedily absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.

It just so happens that Qingxu Mountain is closed to visitors today, so all the Taoist disciples in Zixiao Palace have come to the back mountain and sat around the Heavenly Ladder leading to Yujing Mountain, spontaneously entering into meditation.

Just one day of arduous practice has surpassed more than a month of the past.

Only one disciple did not come; he was Wang Jingshu's only personal disciple, the boy whom many of his fellow disciples called "Sword Fool."

He remained standing motionless in the square outside the Jinghong Hall of Yiru Peak, holding his sword in both hands, soaked by the rain.

Naturally, no one noticed that this sword-wielding fool, who almost never spoke, was now exuding a sword intent that enveloped the entire hall in a chilling atmosphere.

It is foreseeable that with the treasure of Yujing Mountain, the Taoist sects within Jingming Cave Heaven will experience an explosive growth.

However, as the source of all this, Li Daoxuan, the Dao Ancestor, was not having a good time at this moment.

The moment Yujing Mountain was completed, an immense aura of majesty enveloped the entire Tianshui Marshland.

This kind of authority doesn't cause direct harm, but it can break a person's spirit and make them timid and cowardly.

Li Daoxuan looked up at the sky, smiled calmly, and was not affected in the slightest.

He knew that this was the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanhuang Great World warning him.

He was warned not to interfere with the fate of the Jingming Cave Heaven, because the birth and destruction of a cave heaven is like a person's birth, aging, sickness and death, which is predetermined by heaven.

Li Daoxuan's actions will naturally be remembered by Heaven.

However, Li Daoxuan was not worried. After all, even if Jingming Cave Heaven did not take action and was allowed to gradually decline, it would still be tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years later.

If he had not attained transcendence, he might have already returned to the Dao and ceased to exist millions of years later.

If he can transcend, this Heavenly Dao will no longer be able to bind him, so what is there to worry about?

But since it's God after all, we still have to give Him face.

Li Daoxuan stood up, bowed deeply to the sky, and said:

"The way of Heaven is to take from the excess and give to the deficiency. The Xuanhuang Great World is abundant, while the Jingming Grotto Heaven is barren."

"My actions can be considered as following the will of Heaven, and therefore not a mistake..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the majestic heavenly power clearly fluctuated.

Finally, it slowly dissipated and returned to normal.

Li Daoxuan smiled and sat down again, then immersed himself in studying the array patterns of the Ascension Platform.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The days of seclusion and spiritual practice always fly by. Before I knew it, three autumns had passed in Tianshuize.

For the past three years, the cloud in the center of the island has remained completely still.

Three years have passed, and the entire island is now covered with endless vegetation, including many medicinal herbs and plants.

On this day, Chen Xun's mother suddenly arrived by boat from Tianshui Town.

Standing on the boat was a woman with her face veiled. She possessed an ethereal air, and one could tell from her figure alone that she was an absolutely stunning beauty.

"Young lady, the Taoist priest is in seclusion and cultivating, so I dare not disturb him. Therefore, I can only bring you to the shore. As for whether the Taoist priest will see you or not, that depends on your own fate."

Chen's mother turned around and apologized to the woman.

The woman nodded gently and said softly:

"Thank you, ma'am."

Without saying anything more, Chen's mother held the token in her hand and passed through the outer barrier of the island to the shore.

The woman jumped off the boat and bowed to thank Chen's mother.

After giving a few instructions, Chen's mother left.

The woman then turned to look at the vibrant island before her and couldn't help but exclaim:

"Such a highly accomplished Daoist master, yet his place of cultivation is so simple..."

Although the spiritual energy on this island is richer than that of the outside world, it is at most just a decent place. Compared to those blessed lands and sacred realms, it is worlds apart.

Who would have thought that a highly accomplished immortal like Li Daoxuan would choose such a barren place as his cultivation site?

The woman dared not be negligent, much less trespass.

He simply clasped his hands in a fist and bowed on the island's shore, and said loudly:

"Master Li, I am Bai Susu from the Beast Taming Sect. I have come here with a request. Please grant me your favor."

The newcomer was Bai Susu from the Beast Taming Sect, a stunningly beautiful woman whose body contained some unknown substance.

Her voice echoed through the valley, over and over again.

However, the island itself remained completely silent.

Seeing this, Bai Susu's eyes showed a hint of anxiety. She lifted her skirt and knelt down directly.

"Master Li, our Beast Taming Sect is facing a great calamity. Only you have the ability to save our Beast Taming Sect from this disaster."

"If the Daoist Master is willing to emerge from seclusion and save my Beast Taming Sect... even if it costs Su Su her life..."

After saying that, Bai Susu looked ahead expectantly, waiting for Li Daoxuan's reaction.

However, there was still no movement on the island.

Bai Susu's face turned ashen, and her heart sank.

"Could it be that the Taoist priest isn't home? No... perhaps Master Li has gone on a pilgrimage and isn't at home..."

Bai Susu comforted herself.

She stood up, preparing to leave.

Suddenly I heard a noise behind me.

She turned her head abruptly and saw a small, bright yellow bird fly over, chirping a few words at Bai Susu before flying away again.

Bai Susu was overjoyed and immediately knelt down to kowtow.

"Thank you, Taoist priest. Thank you, Taoist priest. I'll wait for you here."

Bai Susu is the Holy Maiden of the Beast Taming Sect, possessing the ability to communicate with all beasts.

Those bird calls were Li Daoxuan's message, telling her to wait a few days, and that he would go with her to the Beast Taming Sect after he came out of seclusion.

Bai Susu stood motionless on the shore, like a stone sculpture.

This wait lasted for three days and three nights.

With her cultivation level, standing for three days and three nights is naturally nothing.

However, for some reason, Bai Susu's face was pale and her breathing was erratic.

His body began to sway, as if he were about to fall at any moment.

When the sun rose above the horizon on the fourth day, Bai Susu weakly squinted her eyes, felt the world turn upside down, her vision went black, and she almost collapsed.

But then a gentle, warm force supported her body.

Bai Susu forced herself to look up at the sun.

Under the morning light, a figure that was not particularly tall seemed to gently drift down like a wisp of auspicious cloud.

"plum..."

Bai Susu called out softly, then completely lost consciousness.

Li Daoxuan, who had just emerged from seclusion, couldn't help but frown when he saw Bai Susu in this state.

"It actually damaged his meridians and soul..."

He used his magic to support Bai Susu's body and stepped forward to check on her.

At this moment, disregarding the distinction between men and women, he gently lifted Bai Susu's clothes and saw a deep, bone-revealing wound.

"Sword marks?"