Chapter 992: An old friend visits, Lady Xihe

The Heavenly Fox Clan of the demon race is the companion demonic beast of the ancient lineage of the You family in the Immortal Palace. One tail signifies the Qi cultivation phase, while nine tails signify the Tribulation Crossing phase. Outsiders cannot discern the specific realm.

As for why this demon race accompanies them, if you ask, there's only one answer: "My ancestors had immortals, do you? Is there a problem with the Heavenly Fox being a companion?"

Just as Sui Sui and He Zhi were about to leave, they saw the You family approaching and couldn't help but pause, a look of surprise flashing in their eyes. They hadn't expected them to come; could the Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements have such extensive connections?

The You family is uninterested in anything, renowned and respected. Even in their youth, they had listened to the teachings of the You family's sages for years, forming a bond of transmission.

The two exchanged a silent glance, deciding to return home. Paying too much attention to the Five Aggregates Sect would only lead to being toyed with repeatedly. The Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements clearly had a carefree and unrestrained nature.

He didn't care about his immortal path or his lifespan.

With just a momentary exchange of glances, the two understood each other's intentions and didn't linger. They wouldn't stay long at the Jun family before heading to the battlefield beyond the boundary, with many matters to attend to, unlike the idle Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements.

...

On the outskirts of the Jade Bamboo Range.

Youyuan's smile was as radiant as a flower. In her left hand, she held a pair of goggles, and in her right, a piece of wind-tattered rice paper that read: "Temporarily closed for business, off to explore the mountains and waters. Fellow Daoists, the world is vast, let's meet again amidst the mountains and waters!"

The flamboyant handwriting bore a striking resemblance to the inscription on the mountain gate.

Clearly, Youyuan had mischievously taken down and kept the paper that Chen Xun and Black Bull had once posted outside their shop. After all, she was the only one daring enough to mimic Chen Xun's teasing of Black Bull.

She looked at the woman and said with a smile, "Mother, it's confirmed."

As they conversed, the Heavenly Fox beneath them also began communicating with its eyes. How could this mountain range harbor not only ancient beasts but also the aura of great demons?

Although the grand formation concealed the aura, their innate abilities were strong. They could detect the presence with just a sniff!

Currently, the gathering place of the ancient demon court was not in the Great World of Taiyi, and this grand world didn't even have the Great Demon Clan. Where did the human Five Aggregates Sect find a great demon...

As they pondered silently, two surprised voices called out:

"Hey, Youyuan."

"Hmm? Little sister!"

A man in a green robe with tied hair and another with loose black hair spoke simultaneously. One had a gentle demeanor like jade, while the other exuded dominance. They were Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian, who had unified the six sacred lands of the Jade Canopy Forest Sea.

They looked at the woman with a hint of respect in their eyes and cupped their hands, saying, "Madam Xi He."

"Brother Yanshu, Brother Batian." Joy filled Youyuan's eyes as she waved with the goggles, more convinced that Elder Xun was here and that the Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements was him!

She had asked the two about it before, but they always feigned ignorance, saying nothing. Because of this, she had a cold war with Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian for a long time.

It was only when Eldest Brother Jin Bao brought back many strange items from other heavenly regions that she was appeased.

However, Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian had their own grievances. The Chen family's rules were strict, and the old master and Ancestor Bull were quick to scold and beat them. They never enjoyed the blessings of immortal elders and hadn't had a good day.

In the end, they still had to pay for the old master and Ancestor Bull's retirement...

They always said raising them wasn't easy and that they had taught them too many immortal arts, exhausting all their family resources.

Such deeply hidden matters couldn't be casually spoken of without the old master's permission. They could only stammer and conceal the truth, not intentionally, but because family rules were unbreakable.

Madam Xi He smiled and nodded at the two, her eyes warm and gentle. She knew these two children and had contributed to the unification of the six sacred lands.

"We're imposing on you," Madam Xi He nodded, her gentle hair swaying in the wind. "If the Dao Ancestor doesn't permit, we'll leave immediately and not disturb the grand event of the immortal sect."

"This..." Chen Batian's eyes showed a hint of difficulty.

The old master had already said that these visitors were ill-intentioned. While fishing in the illusion of the East Sea, they were not only fishing for sea spirits but also for these outsiders.

Those who took the bait would be reasoned with, and if they didn't understand, the Dao Ancestor had practiced some martial arts over the centuries...

Chen Yanshu was much calmer, cupping his hands and saying, "Madam Xi He, please rest for a moment. I'll report to the old master."

"Hehe, thank you, Yanshu." Madam Xi He's smile deepened. The name of the Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements was well-known to her, and she had witnessed the phenomenon of becoming an immortal in the Wild Heaven Region.

Hearing this, Youyuan's expression became lively. What world-renowned Dao Ancestor of the Five Elements? In her heart, he was just Elder Xun, who made wooden crafts and fed her melon seeds.

This scene was witnessed by many experts, who cursed inwardly. In this grand world of immortals, background truly mattered. As a mere rogue cultivator, they were not welcomed, but when someone from the Immortal Palace arrived, even the Chen family personally reported!

They cursed their unlucky fate, blaming their ancestors for not achieving immortality!

At this moment, behind Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian was an elderly Heavenly Venerable who was silent and also from the sacred lands, involved in the black-clothed person's affairs.

However, his storage ring still held hundreds of sets of clothing. Judging by his actions, he was naturally the 'Tribulation Crossing cultivator'—Shen Shi.

Back then, he was grateful to the heavens and understood the meaning of going with the flow. After taking the Foundation Establishment Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian under his wing, the 'Heavenly Dao fortune' became unstoppable, leading him to the path of ascension!

Shen Shi had now become the grand elder of the six sacred lands, and no one dared to make him run errands or be inexplicably struck by lightning.

But over the years, he still couldn't forget the shadow of the heavenly tribulation from back then, often pondering alone about which step had gone wrong and offended the heavens.

"Alas, such a question, I'm afraid it will remain unsolved in this life."

This phrase had become Shen Shi's habitual sigh, leaving others puzzled. Had this Heavenly Venerable Shen gone mad?

As for Ru Tang, who recommended Chen Yanshu and Chen Batian to the sacred lands, she was doing well, having become a Great Ascension Venerable, overseeing the procurement of resources for the six sacred lands, deeply trusted by Chen Yanshu, and becoming his confidante.

As everyone harbored different thoughts, the Jade Bamboo Range suddenly resonated, and a vast, imposing voice rolled forth:

"Youyuan, little one, what are you still doing outside?"

"Elder Xun!!!" Youyuan exclaimed with joy, her eyes sparkling with a faint divine light.

This scene even caught Madam Xi He's attention. It had been many years since she had seen this child so genuinely happy. It seemed that Elder Xun truly held great importance to her.