Profound Origin Sect.

Outside the Xuan Yang Main Hall.

A dozen Disciples followed behind Shen Yu. At the very front of the crowd was an old man with white hair and beard, standing with his hands behind his back at the end of the cloud steps.

He was the Sect Master of Profound Origin Sect, Lou Zhengze.

The Sect Master of Chu Country’s top Sect personally seeing someone off—this display was truly too grand.

In the sky, a black crane suddenly cried out, slowly flying over.

"Sect Master Lou, what are you doing?"

Upon the ink-colored immortal crane sat a young Daoist, his face like polished jade, his eyes like stars, and a long scroll carried on his back.

It was the guest from the Central Region, a descendant of Wu Daoxuan, a Disciple of the Wu Family, Wu Xingzhi.

He gracefully landed, and the black crane transformed into a streak of ink, retracting at his fingertips.

"Such a grand display truly flatters me."

He had cultivated for over one hundred and thirty years, now barely entering the Initial Stage of the Golden Core Realm. In the Central Region, he could only be considered a mediocre talent at best.

His status within the Wu Family of immortal Cultivators was also quite ordinary.

Coming to this remote border, he had truly experienced what it meant to be above ten thousand people.

Wu Xingzhi muttered to himself, secretly cautioning himself.

He must not let this vanity disturb his Dao Heart.

If he returned to the clan and his painting cultivation plummeted, he would be laughed at.

Lou Zhengze’s old and stern face broke into a warm smile: "Not at all. A distinguished guest has traveled far, and this old man’s remote and backward place has not been able to entertain you properly. Fellow Daoist Wu not taking offense already shows great magnanimity."

"Today is a day of departure; how could I not come to see you off?"

After a few polite pleasantries, Wu Xingzhi bid his farewell.

"Sect Master Lou, we part ways here."

"Fellow Daoist Wu, please do not forget to convey my regards to Senior Wu Xunzhi."

The Senior Wu Xunzhi mentioned by Lou Zhengze was an Elder within the Wu Family of immortal Cultivators, who had traveled the continent in his early years.

He had some connection with Lou Zhengze; perhaps by chance, he had once given him some guidance.

Although it didn’t fully constitute a master-Disciple relationship, there was certainly some affection between them.

At that time, the Sect Master of Profound Origin Sect was just a naive young man who had just entered Foundation Establishment.

Now, the young man had become a Sect Master in the Golden Core Realm, and this Senior, as Wu Xingzhi revealed, was already a powerful expert in the Middle Stage of the Nascent Soul Realm.

Wu Xingzhi nodded: "Certainly."

Outwardly, he was naturally polite, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but grumble a little.

Elder Xunzhi was kind-hearted and loved to guide juniors.

When he traveled the world in his youth, the talented juniors he had guided were countless.

He probably wouldn’t even remember this Sect Master Lou.

"Farewell."

Wu Xingzhi no longer lingered. The ink at his fingertips surged, once again transforming into an ink-colored immortal crane, soaring into the sky.

He leaped up and sat upon it.

The black crane let out a clear cry and flew towards the distant sky.

Wu Xingzhi’s figure quickly disappeared at the end of the azure sky and cloud sea, but the news he brought stirred up ripples in the hearts of Profound Origin Sect’s high-ranking members, like a stone thrown into a lake.

Beside Lou Zhengze, an Elder, also in the Golden Core Realm, frowned slightly and transmitted, "Zhengze, is what this Wu Family descendant said credible?"

The Sect Master retracted his gaze, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"The Cultivation Technique Wu Xingzhi displayed indeed has many similarities to that of Senior Wu Xunzhi back then, and the Wu Family direct lineage token he holds should also be genuine."

"..."

His eyes flickered, as if he was thinking about something: "The former residence of a Soul Transformation Cultivator, even if it only housed ordinary paintings, would certainly not be an ordinary place."

"Among our Sect, has anyone obtained that ink jade?"

"So far, two have openly reported it... one in Qi Refining, one in Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing this, Lou Zhengze frowned slightly.

There was one piece of information Wu Xingzhi mentioned that Profound Origin Sect had not disclosed to the outside world: once this jade token chose its master, it could not be taken away or transferred to others.

Once the original owner died, it would automatically dissipate, and the quota for entering the former residence would be reduced by one person.

Although Wu Xingzhi stated that in the Dao Child’s former residence, all cultivation was useless, in the eyes of these old foxes, nothing was absolute.

The stronger the cultivation of their own people who possessed this entry qualification, the better.

After casually dismissing the Disciples, Lou Zhengze and the Golden Core Elder transformed into streaks of light and returned to the Sect Master Peak for a discussion.

The other Cultivators slowly walked back to the Sect along the mountain path.

Along the way, ancient pines were verdant, but no one was in the mood to appreciate them.

"Eighty-six of those ink jades are scattered outside, yet our Profound Origin Sect has only found two so far."

Beside Shen Yu, an Elder sighed: "Life is unpredictable. Who could have known that this immortal cultivation Opportunity would be related to the Dao of painting?"

"Old Shen, do you think that Song Yan fellow might have had one of these items that day?"

At the mention of Song Yan’s name, the faces of several Elders turned grim.

In the Battle of Changping, Profound Origin Sect not only lost Shen Huai but also lost face in front of everyone.

Now, the relationship between the two Sects had dropped to freezing point, and skirmishes at the borders of their territories were becoming more frequent.

"That kid is only in the Qi Refining Realm. Even if he got an ink jade, what good would it do?" An Elder said disdainfully.

But as soon as he finished speaking, he realized his mistake.

That Wu Family descendant had said that this Opportunity had nothing to do with one’s Realm.

"..."

Shen Yu shook his head: "Do not underestimate him."

Although he intensely disliked Song Yan, he was very clear about his extraordinary abilities.

"That child surviving in Avici Hell is truly uncanny."

An Elder beside him said: "It shouldn’t be. Senior Wu also said that the ink jade recognizes its master, usually based on their attainment in the Dao of painting."

"As far as I know, this person knows nothing about the Dao of painting."

A cold glint flashed in Shen Yu’s eyes: "And what if he does? Heh heh, if he truly dares to go to the Dao Child’s former residence with an ink jade..."

Everyone understood and said no more.

When Shen Yu returned to the Elder’s courtyard, the casual conversation among the Elders earlier made him begin to doubt the truthfulness of Song Yan possessing this item.

His eyes flickered, and he took out a map from his qiankun bag.

"Wu Xingzhi once said that although the ink jades scattered in Changping, they would eventually guide those who possess them to the former residence when it appears."

"These ink jades will not be too far from where the former residence is located."

His finger traced a line on the map.

"At most... it will be within this area."

Chu Country, of course, was small if you considered it small.

However... for a Cultivator’s former residence, this range was truly too large.

How to determine the exact location?

"Qi Country, Chu Country, Ning Country, Central Region..."

Further south of Chu Country was the territory of Great Heaven Mountain. Currently, there had been no reports of anyone seeing ink-colored objects flying directly south.

In the Southern Border... there shouldn’t be many people proficient in the Dao of painting either.

The most crucial point was the distance; it was too far.

"The two Disciples in the Sect who obtained ink jades have not left the Sect. This distance is not far..."

"..."

He pondered for a moment, then finally drew a small circle with his fingertip, marking two locations.

"Dragon Spring, Chu Country."

"Or..."

"Junping, Central Region."