Chapter 295 - 161: Preparing for the Appointment

Chapter 295: Chapter 161: Preparing for the Appointment

It was midnight in the Profound Yellow Realm. The clouds were thin and the air clear, revealing a sky filled with stars. A brilliant Celestial River stretched across it, suspended from the vault of heaven in a scene of utmost magnificence.

A group of scholars was on a nighttime boat excursion. The beautiful scenery inspired them, and they began to compose and recite poetry one after another.

Every scholar in the group was exceptionally talented. The youngest, a boy named Guan Jue, was a child prodigy known far and wide. Despite his tender age, he had already achieved the rank of a scholar and was exceptionally included among the others, who were collectively known as the Eight Talents of Jin.

The group was in high spirits, effortlessly composing several fine poems. Soon, it was Guan Jue’s turn. He was staring blankly up at the sky, utterly silent. A scholar beside him assumed he was deep in thought, but after a long while with no word from him, the scholar called out, "Guan the Younger?"

Guan Jue recited in a daze, "A royal chariot roams the Star River, a crimson palace high among the clouds! Are there really Immortals and celestial palaces in this world?"

The scholars were stunned and all looked up. Suddenly, the clouds parted to reveal a colossal celestial palace. From their vantage point, it seemed to block out half the sky as it gradually descended from the highest heavens to rest upon a layer of clouds. It paused for a moment, as if to get its bearings, then flew eastward and vanished in an instant.

...

Xuzhuang had been traveling in the void beyond the firmament. Although he hadn’t gone far, he had strayed a considerable distance from Yunmeng Marsh. Fortunately, he was still within the Divine Continent. He only needed a moment to get his bearings and determine his location.

The vastest and most fertile plains in the Divine Continent were undoubtedly the Central Plains. However, to the west of Yunmeng Marsh, stretching to the far side of Mang Mountain, lay another sizable plain known as the Zeji Land.

Xuzhuang found himself in the Zeji Land, not too far from Yunmeng Marsh. Using his Flying Escape at full speed, he soon saw a vast, misty expanse of water enter his vision. In the distance, he could make out the silhouettes of islands and mountains, shrouded in a thin layer of mist.

He had arrived at Yunmeng Marsh.

After a moment’s thought, Xuzhuang summoned his Dharma Body, ordering it to pilot Du Xu Palace back to Chongyun Peak. With a flick of his own sleeves, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light, flew out of the palace, and soared into the sky. He raced with the wind, and it wasn’t long before he reached the location of the Sect Leader’s Cloud Palace. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

But the clouds were empty, with only mist drifting by. The massive Cloud Palace was gone without a trace!

Xuzhuang’s brow furrowed. The Sect Leader’s Cloud Palace was no ordinary structure; it had the ability to float, but it would never normally move from its position. ’Unless Daochen Zhenren isn’t in the palace... or he doesn’t wish to see me?’

He couldn’t think of any reason why Senior Brother Daochen would avoid him. ’It must be the former, then.’

’But what could possibly have drawn away the Master of an entire sect? Could it be related to what I saw in the void?’

Xuzhuang looked up at the sky. Sure enough, among the countless stars, a point of light shone as brightly as a lantern.

If Xuzhuang’s guess was correct, what he had witnessed from Du Xu Palace was the destruction of a star.

Of course, stars were not eternal; they too had lifespans. But those were ancient cycles measured in hundreds of millions, even billions of years. Even a star’s death would have portents. It shouldn’t happen so suddenly, and it was far too coincidental for Xuzhuang to have been the one to witness it.

Therefore, it was almost certain that the star’s destruction he had witnessed was not a natural event.

This was precisely why he had rushed back to the sect and come here at once, seeking an audience with the Master. But since he was unable to meet him, Xuzhuang was left to speculate on his own.

Given the situation, Xuzhuang did not linger. He altered the course of his flight and headed straight for Chongyun Peak. Passing through clouds and mist, he arrived at the summit within moments.

Before he even descended from the clouds, Xuzhuang’s eyebrows shot up as his spiritual sense connected with his Dharma Body.

Du Xu Palace had already returned to Chongyun Peak and settled back into place. Its main gates were wide open. As a streak of light, Xuzhuang shot straight through the main hall and into a side chamber.

This side hall was not particularly spacious, but its furnishings were exceedingly extravagant. Immortal Sandalwood Incense was burning, and Treasure Lotus Lamps were lit. Even the round-backed armchairs were carved from Spirit Crystal Beautiful Jade and padded with Celestial Silk. The chamber was reserved for entertaining honored guests, and Xuzhuang had left its luxurious treasures untouched.

A guest was already seated in the hall, sprawled brazenly on one of the jade chairs. He guzzled a mouthful of the fragrant tea served by a maid, actually swished it around in his mouth, and only then swallowed.

The ones serving in the hall were the two palace maids, Flower and Mist. In the days when Master Zhaokong was still alive, they had served countless honored guests, but this was the first time they had ever seen one so crude. They couldn’t help the strange expressions that appeared on their faces.

But the man paid them no mind. He casually picked up a pastry decorated with Luojia Flower Leaves and a Nuo Wan’Er that resembled Yellow Jade, tossed them both into his mouth, and began to chew loudly.

This person had been received by Xuzhuang’s Dharma Body, so Xuzhuang himself was not surprised by the scene. He strode into the hall, offered a cupped-fist salute, and said, "This junior greets the Zhenren."

Who else could be sitting in the hall but the Immoral Taoist?

"Hmph..." The Immoral Taoist swallowed the pastries with a GULP and exclaimed, "Good kid! This Daoist has been waiting for you for several dozen days. You certainly took your sweet time getting here."

Although he wasn’t dressed like a beggar today, his behavior was just as unrestrained. He wiped his hands on his Daoist Robe and said, "If this Daoist hadn’t divined that your return was imminent, I really wouldn’t have bothered waiting."

Xuzhuang raised an eyebrow. "Senior, the Dharma Body I left at the sect should have informed you of my whereabouts, shouldn’t it?"

Although he had gone beyond the firmament, he was still very close to the Profound Yellow Realm. With the abilities of a Primordial Spirit True Man, it shouldn’t have been difficult to find him.

"I wasn’t about to go looking for you outside the Profound Yellow Realm," the Immoral Taoist said. Then, he turned to Flower and Mist. "Another plate of pastries."

Xuzhuang smiled faintly and gestured for Flower and Mist to do as requested. "Seeing as the Zhenren is so fond of these pastries," he said, "why don’t I make a copy of the recipe for you?"