Gazing at the distant mountains with pine and green willow, Immortal aura, auspicious clouds, and the moon sets over the courtyard.
Beyond the passes, amid the mountains.
A figure approached from afar, then suddenly plummeted downward.
With a dull thud, if he hadn’t shielded himself with Spiritual Energy in advance, that fall would have left him half dead.
Even so, he was badly battered.
Qi Guan Xuehe struggled to get up, looking utterly wretched at this moment.
His robes were covered in bloodstains, and within his body, the Spiritual Energy churned with tangled Baleful Qi and Resentful Soul Qi, wreaking havoc through his meridians.
If his cultivation hadn’t been stable, this ordeal might have cost him half his life.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to circulate his True Spirit and formed a hand seal from memory.
In the next instant, a grand gate suddenly appeared atop the barren mountain.
Then, the gate opened, and an Acolyte stepped out, a puzzled look on his face.
“Who goes there?”
“Please, Immortal Acolyte, inform the Old Ancestor that the Supreme Lord of Bloodfiend Hall, Qi Guan Xuehe, seeks an audience.”
“Qi Guan Xuehe? Aren’t you… Fine, wait here. I’ll go report.”
The Acolyte recalled for a moment, then remembered this visitor—hadn’t he come once before?
One look at the man, and it was clear he was battered all over, not a single good spot left on him. The Acolyte hesitated, but finally nodded.
Still uneasy, he closed the gate behind him as he left.
Qi Guan Xuehe was in no hurry.
He sat down where he was, crossed his legs, and began circulating his True Spirit, trying to expel the Baleful Qi and Resentful Soul Qi.
The cultivation method of Bloodfiend Hall relied on Baleful Qi, so that wasn’t much of a problem.
However, this Resentful Soul Qi was not something he could dispel so easily.
After about half an hour, the vermillion gate slowly opened again. The Acolyte came out, sweeping a calm glance at Qi Guan Xuehe.
“Master bids you enter. Come with me…”
“Thank you, Acolyte, thank you, Old Ancestor.”
Delighted, Qi Guan Xuehe hurried after the Acolyte.
The moment he stepped through the gate, the desolate mountain scenery before his eyes transformed instantly into an immortal paradise!
Even Qi Guan Xuehe, widely experienced as he was, was astonished in his heart.
Who exactly was this Old Ancestor?
He possessed such power to change heaven and earth?
Daring not to ask further, Qi Guan Xuehe simply followed the Acolyte all the way to a lakeside.
The lake was pristine, and in its waters swam a golden Jinli, over two meters long.
The Jinli seemed to notice Qi Guan Xuehe, snapping its vertical pupils toward him.
Just one glance made Qi Guan Xuehe’s whole body tense.
That… that was a member of the Dragon Clan?
And one who had already cultivated the Dao!
Where exactly was this place?
Had he accidentally entered the Immortal Realm?
While he was still dazed, the Acolyte glanced back at him.
“What are you spacing out for? Hurry and keep up! If you delay and the Old Ancestor blames us, neither of us can bear the consequences.”
“Ah—yes.”
Suppressing his fear, Qi Guan Xuehe quickly followed.
Led by the Acolyte, they arrived at a small Pavilion on the lake.
Lotus Seed saluted first, then rose.
“Master, I’ve brought the visitor.”
“Mm…”
At the sound of an aged voice, Qi Guan Xuehe stepped forward at once.
“Junior Qi Guan Xuehe pays respects to the Old Ancestor.”
Instinctively, Qi Guan Xuehe’s gaze fell on the ‘Old Ancestor’ sitting in the cool Pavilion.
Though called Old Ancestor, the man’s complexion was ruddy, his skin as fair as a child’s. Despite his white hair, he looked nothing like an old man.
He resembled a young man instead.
“A moment ago… I performed a divination. The Heaven’s Favored Child, who should have faced a Calamity, managed to avoid it. And now you appear before me in such a state—something must have happened. Speak, what occurred?”
Qi Guan Xuehe froze. The Acolyte promptly gave him a nudge.
“What are you spacing out for? Master is speaking to you!”
“Ah! Yes… yes, it’s like this…”
Only then did Qi Guan Xuehe return to his senses, and he hurriedly recounted all that had happened that day to the Old Ancestor, detail by detail.
Throughout the tale, the Old Ancestor sat with eyes closed, silent.
When Qi Guan Xuehe finished, he remained quiet, pondering for a long while before nodding slightly.
“So that’s how it is. It seems someone interfered. Unexpected—there’s actually someone in this world who can obscure the Heavenly Secrets. Who could it be?”
Muttering to himself, the Old Ancestor finally opened his eyes.
“Very well. Take this Elixir. Stay here in my Realmlet to recuperate for a few days. Later, I will have something for you to do.”
“Thank you, Old Ancestor! Thank you, Old Ancestor!!”
Taking the drifting Elixir, Qi Guan Xuehe could sense the dense Spiritual Energy radiating from it even before consuming it.
Overjoyed, Qi Guan Xuehe knelt in thanks.
“Enough, take him to rest.”
“Yes, Master.”
The Acolyte answered and led Qi Guan Xuehe away.
Only the Old Ancestor remained in the Pavilion, gently stroking his white beard. In his half-lidded eyes, a glint of shrewdness flickered.
“Could it be… that someone else also escaped that great Calamity? Interesting, interesting!”
He cast his divination once more, but the Heavenly Tribulation remained as before, unchanged. Seeing this, the Old Ancestor said nothing further, but closed his eyes to rest.
At this time, Xu Ping’an was unaware that someone was trying to divine his existence.
Even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t care.
His Body of Chaos was outside the Five Elements, beyond the Three Realms, not subject to the Heavenly Dao, nor belonging to the Underworld.
In this world, he was like a cancer cell; no matter who tried to investigate, unless they grabbed his hand and made calculations directly, they would find nothing amiss.
“Sir… is it good? Does it taste good?”
“Mm, Zhier does have some talent. This Kidney-Tonic Porridge is just right.”
Xu Ping’an savored the porridge. Even though he had the Nine-turn Divine Pill and his recovery far surpassed ordinary people, his previous losses had already been replenished.
Nevertheless, this bowl of porridge had taken much effort. The little girl’s thoughtfulness could not be ignored.
“As long as you like it, sir. If you like… Zhier will make it for you again next time.”
As expected, just as Xu Ping’an had guessed, Li Zhi’er was the type to yield to any situation.
Even if he did something outrageous before her, she would probably cry and push at him at the same time.
Truly, just imagining such a scene gave him an odd thrill.
He quickly shook his head to rid himself of that dangerous thought.
This girl was so lovable—bullying her more would only torment his conscience.
“Sir… you don’t want it?”
Li Zhi’er saw Xu Ping’an suddenly shaking his head and thought her porridge was unpalatable.
Her big eyes filled with mist, and her eyes reddened visibly.
“How could I not? Of course I want it. Don’t overthink—just now… just now, I thought it was so delicious, but seeing the bowl empty made me feel regret, so I shook my head.”
“Really?”
“Of course it’s true.”
“Then~ Zhier will make some more for you right away~”
“Don’t…”
Before Xu Ping’an could stop her, Li Zhi’er had already stood up. Her eyes sparkled with tears, yet a smile played on her lips.
Watching her retreating figure, Xu Ping’an subconsciously patted his stomach.
“In a bit… I’ll need some digestive medicine, won’t I?”