Chapter 360 358: A Difficult Meeting

At this, the Domain God paused before saying, "Back then, the battle between the Black Dragon King and Ta Kong Immortal Emperor shattered the passages connecting the Nine Realms. Although the Tough Dao Era is over and the world can once again produce a Celestial Mandate, the passages between the Nine Realms have yet to be restored. The realm barriers are virtually impenetrable. I can send you to the Ghost Sacred Realm, but I can't guarantee your arrival point. I can only send you to some random location within the Ghost Sacred Realm."

"That's not a problem. Just getting me into the Ghost Sacred Realm is enough," Li Qiye said with a nod.

The Domain God said, "I can do that, but there's one thing I must make clear. I can send you to the Ghost Sacred Realm, but I can't bring you back. If you wanted me to retrieve you, my true body would have to go to the Ghost Sacred Realm in person. And if I were to leave the Celestial Dao Academy, to leave this Ancestral Vein… even if I agreed, the Celestial Dao Academy would still require you to fulfill a promise in exchange."

"There's no need for the Domain God to come in person. I have my own way of returning." Li Qiye smiled and shook his head. "Of course, that group of old geezers at the Celestial Dao Academy wouldn't be able to bear it. If the Domain God were to truly leave this Ancestral Vein, it would be a monumental undertaking. The hearts of those old men would ache; they have to worship the Domain God like a precious treasure."

The Domain God couldn't help but laugh. "You can't blame them! I, too, have never been able to bear leaving this land. They are like the children I watched grow up!" He let out a soft sigh at this.

Li Qiye didn't say anything. 'For someone like the Domain God, the longer you live, the more you have to bear. He once planned to leave, but in the end, he never did!'

To the Domain God, the Celestial Dao Academy was his home. All its disciples were his juniors, and he had even personally taught some of them. Just as he said, many of the Elder Ancestors at the Celestial Dao Academy were like children he had watched grow up. In the end, he simply couldn't bear to leave it.

A long time ago, Li Qiye had said that for the Domain God, the Celestial Dao Academy was both his greatest achievement and his greatest failing. It was his ultimate attachment. Otherwise, had he left the Celestial Dao Academy back then, he might have already become an Immortal Emperor and shouldered the Celestial Mandate!

"What about the Void Gate?" the Domain God finally asked.

Legend said the Domain God had a profound connection to the Void Gate. An ancestor of the Celestial Dao Academy had brought him from the Eternal Gate, and he had a mysterious origin. There were even rumors that he hailed from the Void Gate itself!

"The day will come when it opens again," Li Qiye said. "The Nine Great Heavenly Treasures… who in this world can possibly fathom them? However, in this generation, that day is certain to arrive. Just wait and see."

Li Qiye's words were spoken with absolute certainty. The Domain God nodded, finally remarking with a sigh, "Ah, the Nine Great Heavenly Treasures… For ages, countless people have coveted them. How many Immortal Emperors have sought them, only to fail! One day, I will go see for myself. Perhaps that is my final destination."

Li Qiye wasn't surprised by the Domain God's words. 'For the Domain God, perhaps that truly is the best final destination. To return to where you came from!'

"When do you want to go to the Ghost Sacred Realm?" the Domain God asked at last.

Li Qiye said, "It won't be long. I'll let the Domain God know when I'm ready." For him, going to the Ghost Sacred Realm wasn't a sudden whim but a long-held plan. There were some things he had to figure out!

"Good. When you're ready, you can come and tell me anytime." The Domain God was a straightforward person and agreed at once without any more fuss.

After leaving the Domain God's residence, Elder Daoist Peng immediately rushed over to Li Qiye. "I'll take you to see the Elder Ancestor," he said, looking afraid that Li Qiye might change his mind.

Li Qiye sighed softly to himself and nodded. 'What must come, will come.' He followed Elder Daoist Peng toward Xiu Peak.

Xiu Peak stood in isolation. It sat upon the boundless lands of the Celestial Dao Academy, yet seemed completely cut off from the rest of the world. This peak wasn't the tallest or most majestic within the academy's territory; on the contrary, it was rather elegant. However, this very elegance gave it an air of independence, as if it were a world apart.

A waterfall cascaded from the heavens, seeming to stretch all the way to the Nine Heavens. On Xiu Peak, before this waterfall, an Ancient Pavilion was suspended, otherworldly and aloof from worldly affairs.

The Ancient Pavilion was closed, sealed by the Great Dao itself. Because of this Great Dao lock, one could only observe it from afar, not daring to get closer for fear of disturbing the tranquil cultivation within.

In fact, it was the same throughout the Celestial Dao Academy. The hundred-mile territory where Xiu Peak resided was a place of peace and serenity. Even the academy's Elder Ancestors kept their distance to cultivate, not daring to disturb the slumbering Elder Ancestor. As for anyone else from the Celestial Dao Academy, they couldn't even get close to this patch of sky.

Standing at the foot of Xiu Peak, Li Qiye said to Elder Daoist Peng, "I can go up by myself. Some things, some words… perhaps they ought to have a conclusion."

Elder Daoist Peng's heart skipped a beat. Although he didn't know Li Qiye's true origin, he didn't want this to involve any tangled history of grudges and feuds. After all, the Celestial Dao Academy did not want to make an enemy of someone like Li Qiye!

"Don't worry, my ancestor had no feud with Ma Gu," Li Qiye said, knowing what Elder Daoist Peng was thinking. He smiled and shook his head.

Hearing this, Elder Daoist Peng finally let out a sigh of relief. "Please pay my respects to the Elder Ancestor," he said, then silently withdrew.

Li Qiye couldn't help but look up at Xiu Peak and sigh inwardly before finally beginning his ascent.

After reaching the summit of Xiu Peak and standing before the Ancient Pavilion, Li Qiye looked at the old and simple Longevity Pavilion and couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion. 'How many years have passed… How many memories does this place hold!'

The door to the Ancient Pavilion had no physical lock, yet it was sealed by the Great Dao. This Dao Lock sealed away time, the mortal realm, and the world itself. Outside this Dao Lock, everything stopped. Inside, it contained the silence of ages, as well as an age of perseverance. Perhaps this Dao Lock was like Ma Gu's Dao Heart—always silent and steadfast.

"You saved the Domain God. I witnessed your methods." At last, a voice drifted from within the Ancient Pavilion. It was incredibly transcendent, like an otherworldly Immortal Sound, detached from the mortal realm. Hearing it filled one with a sense of ethereal clarity.

"It was just a lucky coincidence. All of the world's Ten Thousand Techniques eventually return to the same source," Li Qiye said after a moment of silence.

"A Kunpeng encircles you, and the Wan Dao are sealed in dust. This is truly rare," the voice, like an ethereal echo in a valley, came again from within the Ancient Pavilion.

Li Qiye was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond. After a brief silence, he calmly said, "I am but a disciple of the Xiyan Ancient Sect, cultivating the Kunpeng Six Transformations. Due to a fortuitous encounter an ancestor of mine had, a Daoist Technique was sealed away. This was the will of the Xiyan Ancient Sect's founder."

"I see," the ethereal voice from the Ancient Pavilion replied. "However, you commanded the Ancestor's Defense Line with such familiar ease, it was truly astonishing. Not even the Elders of the Celestial Dao Academy have demonstrated such skill."

This made Li Qiye's heart jump. He sighed softly, feeling helpless, and finally said, "I only read about it in an Elder Sage's journal once. I researched it a little and naturally gained some insights."

The Ancient Pavilion fell silent. After a long while, Li Qiye, who was standing outside, took a deep breath. He bowed and said, "If Senior has no other business, this junior will take his leave." With that, he turned to go.

"Teacher—" However, Li Qiye had barely taken two steps when the ethereal voice from the Ancient Pavilion called out softly.

Li Qiye froze mid-stride. That title, "Teacher," was far too familiar. He couldn't help but think of the little girl from all those years ago.

Li Qiye took a deep breath, turned around slowly, and said, "I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else."

"Teacher, I know it is you," the ethereal voice from the Ancient Pavilion sounded again. "I cultivate the Longevity Body, which you taught me. Your Immortal Body has had some success, and the moment you stood here, I knew it originated from the Body Book. You once sealed your Sea of Consciousness with the Wan Dao. That power, sealed in the very depths… I once stayed by your side and sensed that sealed power. I know that in this entire world, besides you, Teacher, no one else would use the Dao of All Emperors to seal their Sea of Consciousness!"

Li Qiye fell silent. He might have been able to deceive others, but not Ma Gu, who had once stayed by his side. Not the Ma Gu he had personally taught by word and example.

"When the Black Dragon King tore the heavens asunder, I knew something had happened to you, Teacher. Unfortunately, I was at the most critical juncture of my Longevity Body cultivation and couldn't emerge from my eternal slumber. I couldn't lend the Black Dragon King a hand and sweep away the hindrances in your path!" Within the Ancient Pavilion, the ethereal voice was filled with emotion.

"Seeing you today, Teacher, I know that the Black Dragon King succeeded!" the ethereal voice from the Ancient Pavilion continued. "I, Ma Gu, am dull-witted and know I cannot compare to the Black Dragon King and All Emperors, nor am I a match for the many geniuses you have mentored. If you do not wish to see me, Teacher, I will not blame you."

Li Qiye was filled with a myriad of emotions. 'After all these years, that little girl still remembers that incident.'

"You are mistaken." Li Qiye shook his head gently. "I have always been proud of you, and I say that from the bottom of my heart. While it's true you cannot suppress the ages like the Black Dragon King and the others, you possess a Dao Heart that even they could not surpass. You have a perseverance that has lasted for eons."

"I should be the one thanking you," Li Qiye said with a soft sigh. "I have cultivated many with the Longevity Body, but you are the only one who has truly succeeded. Reaching Great Success with the Longevity Body is even more difficult than nurturing an Immortal Emperor."

"Teacher, it really is you!" From within the Ancient Pavilion, the ethereal voice was now filled with excitement and joyous surprise.

"So you were just testing me," Li Qiye said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "It seems you weren't entirely sure, either."

"I believed it was you, Teacher," the surprised and joyous voice replied from the Ancient Pavilion. "I just didn't know if you still remembered me."

The long-awaited reunion between master and disciple is finally here! Ma Gu is about to make her appearance! Everyone, let's cheer! ...............