Chapter 1153 - Like Ascending the Heavens Overnight
Seven days later.
Su Yi returned to the Grotto of Abstruse Force.
He was reassured to learn that with Jing Xing and Wang Que there to hold down the fort, nothing had happened to the Grotto of Abstruse Force.
That very day, Su Yi released Cha Jin, Wen Lingxue, and the others from the Seed of the Azure and got them settled in.
“It’s like... it’s like an immortal paradise!” murmured Wen Lingxue in a trance.
The others were much the same way.
They’d spent their lives cultivating in the Azure Continent. It was a cruel thing to say, but the Azure Continent was really just a run-down mundane world.
But they now stood in the Wilds! The heart of the Dark and Gold Star Realm!
Here, clans were as numerous as trees in a forest, and Emperors were as numerous as clouds in the sky. These lands had given rise to countless dazzling powerhouses, as well as too many legends to count.
And this was the Grotto of Abstruse Force, the most famous blessed ground in the Wilds, a holy land in the heart of the world’s countless living things!
It was easy to imagine how astonishing this place was to Wen Lingxue and Cha Jin.
It really was as if they’d ascended to heaven in a single bound, entering an otherworldly immortal paradise! They struggled to calm down as they looked around. It didn’t feel real, almost as if they were dreaming!
“My heavens! That entire pond is the highest quality spirit liquid. There are even divine medicines growing on the shore and golden dragon carp swimming in its waters!” Yuan Heng clucked his tongue.
“Look! The misty, auspicious light between those mountains covers a hundred thousand feet. It really is like the immortal paradises described in ancient tomes!” murmured Ning Sihua.
The whole group was dazed. It seemed that everywhere they looked, strange sights imbued with a holy air greeted them. This was like a legendary immortal abode full of treasures mortals practically never got to see.
Uncontrollable waves of emotion coursed through their heat. They couldn’t help but feel that they were nothing but frogs in a well.
“Don't... don’t tell me that’s Winding Dragon Grass!?” Ying Que’s eyes widened.
A cluster of fiery red spiritual medicine grew in a gap between rocks. The stamens seemed to spit fire, and the blades of grass emanated a soothing, floral fragrance.
“Yes, that’s indeed Winding Dragon Grass.” Jing Xing patiently explained, “But it’s different from ordinary Winding Dragon Grass. It’s a Xiantian Life Form Master brought back from a chaotic hidden realm, and it’s been growing here ever since.”
Here, he casually plucked a stalk and passed it to Ying Que. “Fellow Daoist, go ahead and try it. A spiritual medicine like this ought to be highly beneficial to your cultivation.”
Su Yi had already told Jing Xing about Wen Lingxue, Cha Jin, and the others. Furthermore, he’d ordered Jing Xing to be hospitable and help them get acquainted with the Grotto of Abstruse Force. Jing Xing naturally dared not be negligent.
It didn’t matter that Wen Lingxue and the others frequently lost their composure along the way, jumping with surprise over every little thing like ignorant country bumpkins. Jing Xing never looked down on them for this.
On the contrary, it reminded him of when he’d first joined the sect and his early days of cultivating alongside his master.
He’d seemed like an ignorant country bumpkin then too. Whenever he went everywhere, he exclaimed over everything he saw. These memories left Jing Xing deeply emotional.
“This...” When Jing Xing handed him the Winding Dragon Grass, Ying Que was instantly a bit frantic.
But just as he was about to refuse, Jing Xing smiled and pushed it back into his hands. “You can find spirit medicines like this all over the Grotto of Abstruse Force. It’s nothing at all, so please, don’t refuse.”
Only then did Ying Que put it away.
And here he’d thought he’d seen his share of wind and waves. Despite his experience, his heart swelled with emotion.
Over the course of their conversations thus far, he’d learned Jing Xing’s background and cultivation, and his heart was full of awe and respect, even shame over his own unsightliness. He couldn’t adjust.
After all, he was just a yao cultivator, and he’d yet to reach the Imperial Realm. He’d spent his whole life in a remote, mundane place like the Azure Continent. How could he have ever imagined one day being able to enter the greatest blessed ground in the Wilds?
Much less that a Profound Unity Realm powerhouse would guide him personally? And converse with him so amiably?
They’d never imagined this, not even in their dreams!
It wasn’t just Ying Que. That went for Yuan Heng, Ning Sihua, and the others too.
They finally understood on a visceral level why Su Yi was always so calm back on the Azure Continent. No matter how great the storm or perilous the danger, he was utterly unmovable.
But that was because those "storms" and "dangers" were completely unworthy of his attention!
They also finally realized just how fortunate they were to have established ties with Su Yi. No stroke of good fortune could compare with this.
They said that when a man achieved the Dao, even his chickens and dogs rose into the heavens. As unpleasant as the phrasing was, that truly was how it worked!
Wang Que’s voice rang out from afar. “Second Senior Apprentice Brother, the banquet is about to begin. Master is waiting for you at the Symphony of Waves Pavilion.”
“We’re on our way,” Jing Xing said with a smile.
He then turned to the others. “After the banquet, I’ll help you get familiar with the rest of the sect and arrange residences and cultivation grounds for each of you.”
“I’ll have to trouble you then, Senior.” Ning Sihua clasped her fist.
Jing Xing waved the gesture away. “You’re my master’s friends. Your seniority is above mine. I truly cannot accept the title.”
Wen Lingxue sighed with exasperation from the sidelines. “But how could we dare to treat you as a junior?”
She’d just said what all of them were thinking.
Jing Xing was warm and friendly, a cultivated gentleman as calming as a spring breeze. Even so, who would truly dare to treat a Profound Unity Emperor as their junior?
And Jing Xing wasn’t the pedantic sort, so he smiled and said, “How about this? We’ll converse like members of the same generation. In any event, seniority has always been a mess in the world of cultivation.”
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.
They then followed Jing Xing to the Symphony of Waves Pavilion.
The setting sun was like molten gold, and the sea of clouds was resplendent. A flock of immortal cranes flew past, shooting through the cloud cover as they let out sonorous cries.
A waterfall and flowing spring stood beside Symphony of Waves Pavilion. The name came from the pines rustling in waves, like the music of nature.
Within Symphony of Waves Pavilion, Su Yi sat in the centermost seat. He’d changed into long, wide-sleeved robes, and his long hair was pinned into a Daoist topknot. He sat there casually, his whole body emanating a leisurely aura.
“Don’t be reserved. Quick, sit down,” Su Yi said as he saw Jing Xing and the others arrive. He smiled. “Wan’er is still resting. Let’s feast for now.”
Jing Xing promptly arranged everyone’s seats, but all of the guests were instantly a bit reserved.
They’d just gained a cursory understanding of the Grotto of the Abstruse Force. It was only the tip of the iceberg, but it still came as an enormous shock.
It was hard not to let this influence their emotions as they faced Su Yi.
This was only natural.
Imagine two close, familiar friends. Now imagine that one of them had suddenly become a god. Could they truly interact as they had before?
Su Yi took all of this in. He was well aware that his friends had only just arrived, and that they couldn’t adjust all at once. Given time, everything would be okay.
He raised his cup of wine and smiled. “Come, let’s drink! We won’t stop until we’re drunk!”
Everyone raised their cups to drink with him.
The dishes were sumptuous. All of them were delicacies rare even in the Wilds.
Although Su Yi never explained this, how could his friends fail to realize it?
Jing Xing sat to the side, laughing and conversing with the crowd. As wine entered their bellies, they gradually relaxed, and soon the atmosphere turned lively and harmonious.
“And here I thought Big Brother Su Yi was deliberately showing off to us. Now I realize that to Big Brother Su Yi, all of this is perfectly ordinary. He has no need to show it off at all!” Wen Lingxue’s beautiful face was flushed red, and perhaps due to the alcohol, she’d recovered her typical lively charm.
Su Yi couldn’t help but say, “I arranged all of this specifically for you. How could they possibly be ordinary?”
Everyone laughed.
It was then that Wang Que rushed into the room and said in a low whisper, “Master, Ancestor Peng of the Nine Extremes Profound Capital is here with a group of his fellow Daoists. They say they have important business to discuss with you.”
Su Yi waved. “For now, welcome them on my behalf.”
“Got it.” Wang Que rushed off to carry out his orders.
“Big Brother Su Yi, if you have important business to attend to, don’t worry about us,” Wen Lingxue couldn’t help but say.
Su Yi chuckled. “You really are considerate, Lingxue. But no matter how important it is, it has to wait for now. Let’s drink to our hearts’ content before doing anything else.”
But before long, Wang Que returned. “Master, when Ancestor Peng and the other seniors heard that you were dining with old friends, they said they wished to greet them as a show of respect.”
Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly, but shortly after, he said, “Very well. Invite the old codgers over.”
He’d leave the Wilds sooner or later. If he introduced Wen Lingxue and the others to the Wilds’ older generation experts, they’d form a connection of sorts. It might well come in handy later.
Su Yi wasn’t at all worried that the old-timers would look down on his friends after learning their origins.
They’d lived for countless years. If their judgment was really that bad, they’d have lived all those years in vain.
Soon, Wang Que led Ancestor Peng, the Border Mountain Yao Ancestor, and the others to Symphony of Waves Pavilion.
Wen Lingxue, Cha Jin, and the others were unwittingly stunned.
In their eyes, these ancient experts were like sovereigns of heaven. Their majesty and prestige are so terrifying that even suppressed, they put intense pressure on them.
They felt as trivial and insignificant as ants, and they couldn’t help but feel reserved.
This was the absolution suppression of a gap in cultivation. The disparity was far too enormous.
Ancestor Peng and the others, meanwhile, were a bit dumbstruck.
Wang Que had warned them that his master’s guests were his old friends, and that despite their modest cultivations, no one else could compare when it came to the strength of their bonds.
Still, it was only after seeing them directly that the old-timers realized that not one of Su Yi’s guests had reached the Imperial Realm.
“Let me introduce you. These are my old friends from this lifetime.” Su Yi rose from the centermost seat and smiled.
His voice was as mellow as a spring breeze. Wen Lingxue and the others had only just tensed up, but they instantly relaxed, their hearts soothed.
When they saw Su Yi rise of his own volition to introduce his guests, Ancestor Peng and the others’ hearts shook. How could they fail to realize how much this unparalleled expert of the Wilds valued his old friends?
Ancestor Peng instantly smiled. “There are no outsiders here. Sit down, Old Monster Su, and let us greet our fellow Daoists!”
The other old-timers smiled and nodded. No matter how muddle-headed they might be, how could they fail to realize what they ought to do now?
Giving Su Xuanun’s old friends face was giving Su Xuanjun face!
To do otherwise would be to offend Su Xuanjun!
These old-timers had been ancestral figures in the Wilds for countless years. How could they fail to understand this?
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