Chapter 740 - 353: A Home That Cannot Be Returned To

"The Palace Master of Jianlong Palace?!"

Chen Yi and the others exclaimed.

Even You Su raised an eyebrow, startled by the name of the friend mentioned by Bai Ze.

Bai Ze, seeing the astonished faces around him, raised his head a bit higher, striking a proud pose, as if sweeping away the gloomy mood that had oppressed him during the fight with You Su.

In fact, for any cultivator, even if they have reached the Feather Transformation or Void Realm, being friends with the Palace Master of Jianlong Palace would undoubtedly be something to boast about.

The status of Jianlong Palace in Beiao Continent is not inferior to that of Profound Sky Sect in Zhongyuan Continent, and its combined strength is only slightly weaker than Profound Sky Sect and Qiming Sect, standing on par with the Wild Sacred Hall of West Wilderness Continent. But Jianlong Palace is the only sect that can truly claim a connection to dragons, and it’s also the oldest among all the first-class Immortal Sects, tracing back to the teachings of the Five Immortal Ancestors.

The Palace Master of Jianlong Palace holds the venerable title of Qianlong Venerable. For a woman to adopt such a domineering title is a testament to her strength. Not only is her power unparalleled in the contemporary world, earning her the title of leader among female cultivators, but she also tops the Celestial Immortal List, compiled by those with good taste, yet she rarely appears.

What’s irritating is that You Su once found an expensive Celestial Immortal book in He Kongyue’s study, filled with portraits of list-ranking fairies, even including the image of his master, Lotus Sword Venerable, but the last page, which belonged to the Palace Master of Jianlong Palace, was left blank—more mysterious than even the masked Wangshu Fairy.

You Su asked He Kongyue for the reason, and He Kongyue told him an anecdote.

Someone sought out the author of the Celestial Immortal List—the most famous painting master of the current generation, Zhang Miao, inquiring why they couldn’t buy an image of the true face after spending so many spirit stones. Zhang Miao explained sincerely:

"It’s not hoped that people value the fame of the Palace Master of Jianlong Palace more than her renown. She is foremost an unparalleled powerhouse, and only secondly a fairy."

However, after drinking heartily with Zhang Miao, someone learned the truth—Zhang Miao secretly ranked the fairies by their beauty and planned to publish this ranking, which displeased many fairies. Qianlong Venerable privately criticized Zhang Miao, asking whether Zhang Miao wished her to become an enemy of all female cultivators.

Zhang Miao was frightened but insisted on his view, believing this was a comparison made according to his aesthetic judgment—what was there to fear? Qianlong Venerable, exasperated, was about to kill Zhang Miao to silence him.

Zhang Miao quickly expressed his true intention:

"Beneath each page of my paintings, I, Zhang Miao, have included a line ’Spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, summer bamboos and winter plums—each excels in its own field, incomparable to others,’ except under the top name because I believe Qianlong Venerable, you, are worthy of it."

Qianlong Venerable sighed thrice, yet still intended to kill.

Zhang Miao said again, "The Celestial Immortal List has been around since ancient times. I, Zhang Miao, am willing to continue the legacy of capturing the brilliance of beauties! This list is my life’s work, and under no circumstances will I give it up! I fear not death! I know the pressure of being at the top is immense, but I look at the entire world, and only the Palace Master is undisputably able to handle this pressure!"

Qianlong Venerable, perhaps moved by Zhang Miao’s persistence or holding the resolve of ’if not me, then who,’ finally agreed to Zhang Miao’s private ranking but took away her own portrait.

In the end, this Celestial Immortal List became an incomplete book, but the absence of the top name made it the most debated Celestial Immortal List out of the eight in history.

Of course, because of Zhang Miao’s unique realistic painting style and meticulous technique, this volume of the Celestial Immortal List is also recognized as having the most beautiful fairies in painting, which in the cultivation realm, that reveres antiquity, is seen as a counterintuitive marvel.

In short, Bai Ze’s proud demeanor was quite normal, as if saying: "Isn’t my friend amazing? Ha ha, that means I’m amazing too."

If it were someone else, they’d likely regard themselves as blessed for having cultivated this friendship for hundreds of years, viewing it as an honor rather than simple pride.

"Better not to mistake treating someone as a friend while they see you as a passerby," You Su casually quipped, "You’ve been tricked here for thirty years, they might have forgotten you already."

He hadn’t even seen the Sect Leader of his own Profound Sky Sect, how could this silly deer be friends with the Palace Master of Jianlong Palace?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Bai Ze, hearing this, was so angry that his eyes opened wide, "I, Bai Ze, am the spirit of the snowy mountains, never deceitful! She herself came to befriend me! It’s just... just..."

"Just what?" You Su asked.

"It’s just that she hasn’t come for a long time..."

Bai Ze’s towering form seemed to shrink a little, as if reminiscing. He thought of being trapped here watching a big rock for thirty years, plus fifteen years with the mountain snow, forty-five years in total, and that friend hadn’t visited him even once during all that time...

Bai Ze’s eyes drooped despondently, and his fur appeared even more dim, a stark contrast to the merciless beast he was earlier, now exuding a pitiful aura.

Chen Yi, seeing this, could only shake his head and sigh, not knowing what to say.

"Normal friends might drift apart after a year or two, but genuine friends remain in your heart even after ten or a hundred years without meeting," You Su said casually, arms crossed over his chest, "I, for instance, have a close friend, and even separated by thousands of miles, we’ll certainly remain friends whenever we meet again."