160: Chapter 160 The Dynasty of Ten Thousand Immortals

The setting sun melted into gold, dyeing the vast Qing River a flowing orange-red. The cloud-ship treasure boat plowed through the shattered-gold waves, leaving a long wake behind.

Ling Hao stood at the bow, his black robes fluttering in the wind; Chi Wanhe leaned to one side, pointing out the mountains on both banks, which were dyed in layers of autumn colors, with great interest.

Having recovered some of her energy, Xia Yingying lay against the ship's railing, reaching out her small hands to catch the water splashes leaping at the side of the boat, her laughter like silver bells echoing in the river breeze.

As night fell, a bright, clear moon rose to the center of the sky, its pure radiance like silk, spilling over the surface of the river.

The boat traveled upon it, as if gliding along a flowing silver ribbon. Warm yellow spirit lamps were hung on the ship's pavilion, illuminating the figures of the three.

Chi Wanhe produced a jade flute from who knows where and began to play a melodious tune, while Xia Yingying hummed along softly.

Ling Hao listened with a smile; this familiar tune of "Blue and White Porcelain" was likely something Qin Zhaoxue had taught them.

Occasionally, Chi Wanhe would put down the flute and tease Xia Yingying on purpose, the two of them chasing and playing around Ling Hao, their crisp laughter surrounding the treasure boat.

One day later, Liuyun Temple.

The morning light was faint, and dew still clung to the ancient banyan tree in the small courtyard.

Ling Hao and Chi Wanhe stood in the small courtyard.

Ling Hao's gaze fell upon Xia Yingying, "Yingying, are you really not coming back with Revered Master?"

Xia Yingying looked at the gentle, smiling Liu Sisi beside her, remembering what she had told her last night about teaching her some common knowledge about Dual Cultivation.

She hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Revered Master... Yingying wants... wants to stay with Sister Sisi for a few more days, is that okay?"

Liu Sisi smiled and patted the back of her hand.

A flash of understanding crossed Ling Hao's eyes, and he nodded in agreement, "Very well. Stay here peacefully, and learn more from Temple Master Liu."

"Mm-hmm! Don't worry, Revered Master!" Xia Yingying nodded vigorously.

Ling Hao's gaze turned to the distance, "In one month, Revered Master will return here, and on the way... I will make a trip to the Cangmu Kingdom."

Upon hearing this, Liu Sisi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Ling Hao gave a slight nod to Liu Sisi, then flicked his sleeves, and a stream of light swept up him and Chi Wanhe, vanishing into the horizon in an instant.

...

Yongyue City.

The city was as prosperous as ever, but there were many unfamiliar faces on the streets. These Cultivators had deep and concentrated Auras, with varied attire, obviously coming from distant and different cultivation nations.

They walked in a hurry or stopped in front of stalls, their low conversations carrying foreign accents. The air was filled with a tension and restlessness different from usual.

The local Cultivators looked at the imposing outsiders and talked amongst themselves.

"Tsk tsk, I heard that even Disciples from major Sects in the distant Rank 6 cultivation nations like Hu Kingdom and Ze Kingdom have come?"

"Indeed! I heard they all came for the Moonshadow Sect! To be precise, it's for the Moonshadow Heavenly Venerable; they all want to witness his demeanor."

"Eh, although their Realm is high, they are not as good as us in this regard. We have already admired the Moonshadow Heavenly Venerable many times."

"Look at how happy you are, be careful—"

A loud commotion suddenly came from the distance.

"Someone causing trouble?"

"Looks like there's a show to watch, let's go, let's go—"

There is never a shortage of onlookers.

In the west of the city, in front of a stall selling rare Spiritual Plants, the atmosphere suddenly became tense!

Two powerful Nascent Soul Stage Auras collided with a bang! The Spiritual Plants and Spirit Medicine on the stall were scattered all over the ground.

One side was a middle-aged Cultivator dressed in lake-blue brocade robes, while the other was a sturdy old man wearing a black robe embroidered with gold threads.

The two glared at each other, their spiritual power surging. At their feet, a "Star-Glow Orchid" shimmering with seven-colored light lay quietly on the stall.

"Old Ghost Chi! My Wu Family saw this item first!"

"Hmph! You old scoundrel Wu, just because you saw it first, it's yours?"

This "Star-Glow Orchid" was a Rank 3 Spirit Medicine and one of the ingredients for refining the Rank 3 Returning Golden Core.

Although it was valuable, it was not worth two Nascent Soul Cultivators fighting over. Clearly, this was just the fuse for the conflict. The root cause was likely the long-standing grudge between the Chi and Wu families.

The terrifying Aura made the surrounding low-level Cultivators turn pale, and they retreated in panic. The stall owner was so scared that he collapsed to the ground, not daring to breathe. No one dared to step forward to dissuade these two Nascent Soul Cultivators who were clearly from major families of a higher nation.

"Private fighting is prohibited in Yongyue City! You two, please withdraw your Auras immediately!"

Following a clear, melodious female voice, a graceful figure in a green and white dress drifted over from the direction of the resonance dao tower.

Chu Zhirou looked helpless; there had been more and more people causing trouble lately.

"Hmm? A mere Golden Core junior, and you dare to meddle in this old man's business?"

The Chi Family Cultivator squinted at Chu Zhirou, his tone full of disdain and contempt. The old man from the Wu Family also snorted coldly, with no intention of withdrawing his Nascent Soul Aura.

Chu Zhirou's expression was as calm as water, and her Aura erupted, actually suppressing the violent Auras released by the two, Chi and Wu.

Both of their expressions changed simultaneously! Their eyes were filled with disbelief! This Aura...

"This is the last warning, withdraw immediately, or you will be punished for disrupting the order of Yongyue City!"

"Hey! You little girl has quite the nerve! Do you really think..." The Wu Family old man was just about to flare up when someone in the crowd of onlookers whispered:

"It's Fairy Chu of the Moonshadow Sect!"

"A Disciple of the Moonshadow Sect is here! And these two are still so arrogant!"

"Moonshadow Sect?!"

Upon hearing the discussions around them, the two, Chi and Wu, felt as if a basin of ice water had been poured over their heads, their arrogance instantly extinguished.

Their faces turned from red to white. A Rank 8 Sect! That was a behemoth with a Tribulation Transcendence Heavenly Venerable!

Crushing Family Cultivators like them was like crushing ants. Even if they had a Rank 6 Family from the Hu Kingdom behind them, it would be of no use.

The two hurriedly withdrew all their Auras and bowed respectfully to Chu Zhirou, their attitude doing a 180-degree turn, becoming extremely respectful:

"Fairy, please calm your anger! We were rude!"

"Yes, yes, yes! We didn't know, Fairy, please forgive us! We absolutely had no intention of disrupting the order!"

Chu Zhirou looked at them with a cold gaze, "Considering this is your first offense and you haven't caused any damage, I will not punish you severely. But the rules cannot be broken. Each of you must pay a fine of one million Low-Grade Spirit Stones or ten thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. Leave immediately and do not cause any more trouble."

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for your magnanimity, Fairy!"

The two felt as if they had received a pardon, and without hesitation, each handed over a bulging Storage Pouch, then slunk through the crowd and quickly disappeared at the end of the street, not even daring to take another look at the Star-Glow Orchid that had caused the dispute.

Yongyue City, private room on the top floor of the Zuixian Restaurant.

At a private seat by the window, a young man in magnificent brocade robes with an arrogant expression was frowning, wiping his fingertips with a silk handkerchief in disgust, as if he had touched something dirty. Behind him stood a man and a woman. The man was effeminate, and the woman was seductive.

"Third Great-Uncle," the gorgeously dressed youth said impatiently, "The Spiritual Qi in this Qing State is pitifully barren, not even as good as the mundane lands of my Wanxian Dynasty! It used to be just a small Rank 4 nation, and that Moonshadow Sect... is it really a Rank 8 power? Could the Intelligence Department have made it up?"

He was clearly extremely dissatisfied with the "backwater" before him.

Opposite the young man sat an old man with a profound Aura. The old man ignored the youth's complaints and withdrew his gaze from Chu Zhirou.

The woman had suppressed two Nascent Soul Cultivators with just her gestures, and that calm demeanor very well demonstrated what it meant to be powerful.

The old man looked at Di Wenlong, who had a disdainful expression, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice:

"Wenlong, watch your words! The two powers, Wan Shou Mountain and the Wutong Divine Dynasty, sent their Seventh Elder and the State Preceptor's fourth Disciple respectively to pay their respects three months ago; do you think they are fools?"

He paused, his tone turning grave, "We came to visit early to test the reality of the situation. Moreover, the True Demon Realm is stirring, and the southeastern defense line will sooner or later be engulfed in flames of war. As a Rank 7 power, our Wanxian Dynasty will certainly have many dealings with the Moonshadow Sect."

Di Wenlong was reprimanded by the old man, a flash of resentment crossing his face, but ultimately he dared not contradict this Third Great-Uncle who held a high status in the Family. He just curled his lips impatiently and picked up his spirit tea to hide his emotions:

"Got it, got it."

He glanced at Chu Zhirou's departing back, "However, this Moonshadow Sect Disciple is quite nice."