Chapter 1: The Seven-Colored Dragon Boat, Azure Pearl...

  Shu Mountain

  Here, the scenery was already not much different from what Luo Bei had imagined in his mind. The young man in green armor praised and then didn't say anything else, he casually rolled up his sleeves and together with the middle-aged man in blue robe, they drew their swords and rushed towards a mountain peak with Luo Bei. These two people either didn't know or didn't intentionally use the heavenly clothes' kind of spell that could cover Luo Bei's entire body, so in mid-air, the strong winds were fierce and biting, blowing so hard that Luo Bei couldn't even open his eyes, and he was unable to breathe. But after landing, Luo Bei found himself standing in front of a temple with a main color of red, giant crimson beads supporting the black glazed tiles eaves, the floor and surrounding railings of the temple were all made of white Hanbai jade, the entire temple wasn't big, like an ordinary rich family's pavilion, but this pavilion was located between two steep canyons, under the reflection of the steep canyons on both sides, this temple was like a shining pearl in an oyster shell. A fine waterfall also sprayed down from one side of the mountain wall, adding a few more touches to the temple's elegance.

  "Master, Master", a young man in green clothes and a middle-aged man in blue robe simultaneously shouted respectfully in front of the slightly closed door.

  "Come in." A gentle voice sounded, and the door opened wide, like a ordinary fragrant door. In the entrance hall with eight purple sandalwood chairs, there were six or seven people dressed differently, but only two were seated. One wore a purple Taoist robe, his hair tied back with a black ribbon, and Luo Bei glanced at him, feeling that this person's demeanor was somewhat similar to Yuan Tianyi's - both were untainted and unblemished, without a hint of worldly smoke or fire. However, Yuan Tianyi was proud and cold, like a white lotus growing alone on a high mountain cliff, while the young man in purple robes had an extremely gentle expression, making people feel warm and cozy at first sight, as if they were basking in spring breeze. The other seated person wore a black long shirt, with a gloomy face and a sharp aura on his thin, long face, which made people feel that he was definitely not an ordinary person.

  Just as Luo Bei was sizing up these people with a slightly curious gaze, Yu Ruochen, dressed in purple robes and with her hair tied back, smiled faintly. Like Yuan Tianyi, time had not left much of an impression on this genius who was ranked second in terms of innate talent in Shu Mountain over the past five hundred years, and who had temporarily taken over as the leader of Shu Mountain thirty years ago after Tian Yizhan went into seclusion.

  Sitting beside him, wearing a black long shirt with a gloomy face was his junior brother, known as the Asura in the cultivation world, who controlled the peaks of Mount Shu's Gelong. At this moment, Yu Ruocheng glanced at Yan Jingxie sitting beside him, wearing a black long shirt with a gloomy face. He then asked Qin Feng, who was standing beside Yan Jingxie, in a warm and gentle voice, "When you arrived at the Zihui Daoist Temple, there was only this one person left alive?"

  "Yes, Master." With a loyal and honest face, he had a broad long sword on his back, looking much older than Yu Ruoxue, yet Qin Feng bowed his head respectfully.

  "Looking at you, there's not a shred of Taoist power on your body. You're not a disciple of the Purple Seal Taoist Temple?" Yan Jingxie suddenly asked Luo Bei with a gloomy face.

  Luo Bei nodded: "I just got accepted as a disciple by Qingxu Zhenren and haven't received any teachings yet."

  "He has just accepted you as his disciple?"

  "Yes."

  Under Yan Jingze's inquiry, Luo Bei recounted how he was rescued by Qingxu Zhenren from the evil dog's mouth and led into a secret room to see the Purple River Rebirth Dan. He told the story in detail. As for himself, Luo Bei naturally asked Qingxu Zhenren about his identity, but only said that he was a child from the nearby mountains.

  "It seems that there was no mistake, it must be that Qingxu secretly refined the Zihetian Dans in the dark, and seeing that this child's talent is extremely high, he wanted to use this child's body. Who would have thought that he was discovered by a superior, and ended up with his body and spirit destroyed? Unbelievable that Qingxu was so sinister! It's a case of reaping what he sowed! What a pity for Qingxuan, I suppose he opposed Qingxu's methods and was imprisoned to death!" Yan Xing's eyes flashed with cold light, the entire room seemed to have a flash of electricity, and even Luo Bei couldn't help but pause for a moment.

  "Master, why did Qingxu Zhenren want to kill the disciples in his own Daoist temple and use their fresh blood and souls to refine the Purple River Rebirth Dan?" asked Ao Huang, the sixth disciple of Yan Xingyao, who had come with Bei Luo.

  Yan Jing's evil laughter was cold, "The fresh blood of a cultivator's soul is used to refine the effect, if you are afraid of being discovered, this kind of ruthless and crazy person can only kill his own disciples."

  Ao Huang nodded slightly, seeming to be still shaken, "It's just that I don't know who that master is. The residual aura alone is enough to make one's heart tremble."

  "Besides Luo Fu's sect master Yuan Tianyi, who else can wield the power of Liuli Jinguangmie like a divine extermination?" Yu Ruochen said lightly.

  "Is it really Luo Fu's sect master, Yuan Tianyi? Is it him?!"

  Apart from Yan Jingruo, everyone else who heard Yu Ruoxuan's words couldn't help but take a deep breath.

  "Was it Master who saved me?" Luo Bei's heart was also suddenly shocked, and he couldn't help but look at Yu Ruochen. But what Luo Bei saw was that Yu Ruochen was looking through the window, gazing at the sky as blue as a wash, faintly thinking about something.

  "Yuanyi Tianyi's actions are entirely based on his own preferences, but he is indeed proud and elegant. This time, the news will not spread from his mouth." After a moment, Yu Ruocheng turned around, "Although Zihui Daoist Temple is only attached to our Shu Mountain Sect, within the hundred-mile radius of our Shu Mountain, if they secretly refine the Purple River Rebirth Dan without our knowledge, we would also be held accountable. From now on, we should instruct our disciples to pay attention to their daily behavior and not let such incidents happen again."

  Yan Jing and others nodded one after another. Yu Ruoxuan's gentle eyes locked onto Luo Bei once again, "Do you have a name?"

  Luobei nodded and said, "I'm Luobei."

  "Luo Bei, not a bad name." Yu Ruocheng looked at Luo Bei, "The Zihui Taoist Temple is also considered an outer gate of Mount Shu. As a disciple of the Zihui Taoist Temple, although Qingxu committed a grave mistake, you can be considered a disciple of Mount Shu as well. Now that you are in Mount Shu, are you willing to become my disciple?"

  The flying swords of Mount Emei have emerged from Shu Mountain!

  Thinking back to the day when he saw the sword light tearing through the sky at Luozang, and thinking of Yuantianyi's words that he had to master the Benming Sword before returning to Luofu, Luobei nodded without hesitation, "I'm willing."

  Weak as dust smiled and turned his head to Yan Xie and said, "Since Luo Bei was discovered by your disciple, then he should be taught by you."

  "Good." Yan Xie nodded, and in his cold eyes, a hint of excitement flashed by. The people around him, including Ao Huang, also had joyful expressions on their faces.

  Anyone can see that Luobei's foundation is exceptionally good. Having such a junior brother will likely bring honor to them in the future.

  With Yan Xiangyi's nod, Luo Bei officially became a disciple of Shu Mountain!

  Yuzao, a once peaceful seaside fishing town, was bustling with activity under the scorching noon sun.

  More than 300 villagers nearby, all dressed in their best clothes, beating drums and gongs, dancing with qilin, carrying roasted pigs and other offerings, went to the Tianhou Temple by the sea in a grand procession.

  This is the annual grand temple fair of Yu Zao.

  On this day, the villagers around will gather in front of the Sea God Temple to burn incense and worship, praying for favorable winds and rains, safe sailing, and a bumper harvest.

  The Tian Hou they worship is a goddess statue similar to Guanyin.

  In the coastal legends around here, they have a kind and loving heart, with a noble character of saving suffering and rescuing difficulties. Almost all fishing boats also have her statue on board.

  These fishermen are all sincere and reverent, because their lives are hard to make a living. If they encounter difficulties at sea or have a slightly poor harvest, life will be difficult to sustain. The more they have to ask for, the more respectful they are of the gods, so this temple is built in a grand and luxurious manner, while that statue seems to see through all the hardships in the world with its benevolent and kind eyes, shining brightly with golden light.

  After the most respected elder in the vicinity lit the incense, more than 300 villagers all knelt down in front of the temple, burning incense and praying for blessings. However, no one had expected that at this moment, the golden statue in the center of the main hall, which was over three feet tall, would suddenly emit a real "cracking" sound.

  Hundreds of villagers heard the sound and immediately looked up, but only saw a deep crack with a length of over one zhang (about 3.3 meters) on the chest of the golden statue!

  It turned out that the sound was actually the cracking open of the golden statue's chest!

  A good golden statue, how can it crack for no reason! Is it an ominous sign, is this statue sentient, foreseeing that something terrible will happen in the world...?!

  Hundreds of villagers all changed color.

  At this moment, all these villagers suddenly felt a dazzling golden light, as if the sunlight at noon had become dimmer in comparison.

  A dazzling golden light, in the sky, like a golden thunderbolt, rushed towards the west at an incredible speed, and the speed seemed to be getting faster and faster. The golden light was also getting brighter and brighter! It was so bright that it dazzled people's eyes! Even the surface of the distant sea seemed to be parted by the power of this light, forming a deep trench.

  The sky was filled with an overwhelming and nameless pressure that poured down in waves, causing all the villagers to involuntarily prostrate themselves on the ground, their bodies trembling with fear!

  Just this wave of nameless pressure made these villagers feel the power of destruction in this golden light!

  Is this a coincidence?

  Is this statue really sentient, and in the face of this heaven-destroying and earth-shattering power, it was shocked to the point where its "heart and spirit were torn apart"!

  "Who is this!"

  On the vast land of China, cultivators are as numerous as hairs on an ox. Even within a hundred miles of this fishing village, on an island in the sea, there exist cultivators who were originally gathered before a dan furnace, joining forces to drive their spiritual energy and refine a batch of elixirs. However, under the pressure of this golden light, they too had their minds shattered, suddenly losing control over the flames, causing a loud explosion that blasted the entire dan furnace into smithereens.

  Looking up at the sky, these people who still have sparks on their bodies see that the golden light is emitted from a person flying in the air, and the direction thrown by this majestic and shocking person is where the unknown Kunlun is!