Chapter 111: Chapter 109: Floating Cloud Immortal Residence, Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree

The Abyssal Marsh, Ao Mountain Island.

The Dong Family’s Ancestral Land.

The sun shone brightly that day, the water and sky merging into a single color.

In the skies above Ao Mountain Island, a snow-white auspicious cloud floated motionlessly. Atop it sat a vermilion, magnificent, and resplendent pavilion.

More than thirty cultivators with extraordinary bearings, all dressed in fine robes, were gathered together, chatting and laughing as they pointed out the sights of the world below.

This was the Dong Family’s Danquet.

The pavilion was spacious, its decorations and furnishings exquisite, showcasing the lavish grandeur of a top-tier family.

Seated at the head of the gathering was Dong Fangyu, who was so exceptionally handsome he could be mistaken for a peerless beauty.

He wore fine robes and had a gentle, jade-like temperament that naturally drew others to him.

Seated to his left and right were Wang Yuntian of the Wang Family and Feng Ling of the Feng Family, respectively.

Wang Yuntian was strikingly handsome, with piercing eyes and a cold, stern temperament. His very gaze carried a sense of intimidating pressure.

Feng Ling, on the other hand, was a devastating beauty, gorgeous and captivating. She was clad in a black dress, her expression calm and elegant, yet the sharp aura she exuded was in no way inferior to Wang Yuntian’s.

The two were widely acknowledged as the strongest among the younger generation of the four great families, hence their prominent seats.

Behind them sat many other Inner Sect Disciples from the four great families, arranged in order. In front of each person was an exquisite jade table laden with various Spirit Fruits and Immortal Brews.

Any disciple from the four great families who could enter the Yinluo Sect’s Inner Sect possessed superior talent and aptitude. They were all Immortal Seeds, cultivated by their families as potential Life Talisman Seeds.

In the future, everyone present had a chance to enter their respective Clan Elders Councils and wield great power!

Individuals like Wang Yuntian and Feng Ling were even expected to become True Disciples of the Yinluo Sect, or even Inner Sect Elders, serving as the pillars of the Wang and Feng Families.

Behind these Inner Sect Disciples was another group of Outer Sect Disciples from the four great families.

Promising family disciples such as Wang Pan, Dong Qing, and Feng Mo were also in attendance.

Before the banquet began, Dong Fangyu smiled and looked at a refined young man beside Wang Yuntian. "Brother Ye," he asked, "your island’s Cyan Profound Sword Fang Cheng sent a Flying Sword Communication today, saying something came up and he couldn’t make it. Do you happen to know what it was?"

This refined young man was the Ye Family’s most outstanding disciple in the Yinluo Sect’s Inner Sect, Ye Junxian.

He smiled upon hearing the question. "That brother-in-law of mine is a recluse and doesn’t interact with me much."

When Feng Ling heard them discussing Fang Cheng, a flicker of emotion crossed her beautiful eyes, and her expression became slightly unnatural, but she quickly regained her composure.

Dong Fangyu expressed some regret. "Fellow Daoist Fang’s strength is astonishing. I personally witnessed him slay a Tier Two Demon Ape. It’s a true pity we couldn’t have such a remarkable person here today."

As soon as he said this, Ye Junxian’s face filled with surprise, and the other cultivators present were also stunned.

Only those who knew of Fang Cheng’s true strength, like Dong Qing and Feng Ling, remained as calm as ever.

Meanwhile, the Outer Sect Disciples from Fang Cheng’s cohort, such as Feng Mo and Wang Pan, felt a storm of emotions, unable to determine if the statement was true or false.

The many cultivators present all had Late-stage Sensing Cultivation; they could be considered the cream of the crop among the Abyssal Marsh’s Sensing Realm cultivators.

But aside from Wang Yuntian and Feng Ling, not a single other person dared claim they could kill a Tier Two Demon Beast while being at a lower cultivation level.

Now, a mere son-in-law of the Ye Family who had just entered the Outer Sect actually had such a distinguished battle record. It was truly astounding.

Ye Junxian quickly asked, "Brother Dong, could you please elaborate on what happened?"

Everyone nodded, their faces filled with curiosity.

Dong Fangyu smiled. "Let’s begin the banquet first."

He tapped the jade table before him, and immediately, more than a dozen beautiful young maids entered the pavilion, serving Spiritual Elixirs and Wondrous Medicines for everyone to sample.

Dong Fangyu then began to recount the story of how he had encountered the Red-haired Giant Ape in the Southern Mang Mountains and nearly met his doom in the hasty confrontation.

When he described the details of how Fang Cheng had followed the distress talisman to the scene and single-handedly fought and killed the Red-haired Giant Ape, displaying his power for all to see, everyone present was shocked.

Tier Two Gu Insects, astonishing Swordsmanship... The Inner Sect Disciples exchanged glances, all finding it incredible.

"As expected of an Immortal Seed trained by Madam Ye!"

Ye Junxian listened, then sighed with a complicated expression.

After hearing this, the cold and stern prodigy of the Wang Family seemed lost in thought as he raised his cup and took a sip of Spirit Wine.

Feng Ling maintained her cool and dignified expression, but she let out a silent sigh in her heart.

The others broke into a flurry of discussion, all feeling that it was a great shame they couldn’t meet Fang Cheng today.

In the seats farther back, Feng Mo and Wang Pan glanced at each other, then turned to Dong Qing in unison. "Junior Sister," they asked, "is Brother Fang really that powerful?"

Dong Qing nodded and said flatly, "Everything my clan brother said, I saw with my own eyes that day."

Feng Mo gave a wry smile. "In another two years, he’ll definitely be the first among us to enter the Inner Sect."

As they spoke, the Floating Cloud Immortal Residence drifted slowly onward, sailing through a sea of clouds.

The cultivators sat in the pavilion, sampling spiritual elixirs and Immortal Brews, exchanging cultivation insights, and admiring the marvelous view of the cloud sea outside, all perfectly at ease.

...

Mist Island, Cold Moon Pond.

Before the pond stood an extraordinary Spirit Wood. It resembled a wutong tree, but its trunk was pale gold and bore natural dragon-like patterns.

The tree was about ten feet thick and over a hundred feet tall, towering majestically.

Its branches were lush with leaves, all of which were also pale gold and radiated a faint golden halo.

The Spiritual Qi here was clearly much denser than anywhere else on Mist Island!

On the opposite shore of the pond stood a sizable manor. Ancient trees flourished within its garden, and its white walls, black tiles, upturned eaves, and intricate brackets spoke of a deep and secluded courtyard.

Just then, a cultivator hurried into the manor, stopping before a pavilion to report, "Island Lord, an Outer Disciple from the Yinluo Sect has landed on the island and is heading this way."

Inside the pavilion, an old man and a young man were discussing matters. Hearing the report, the old man asked, "Do you know who it is?"

The Loose Cultivator outside replied, "He looks like the rumored Cyan Profound Sword Fang Cheng. Many people on the island saw him during the Ye Family’s Sword Fighting Conference and the Yinluo Sect’s outer sect trials."

The pavilion fell silent for a moment.

After a while, the old man said, "Understood. You may leave."

Inside the building, a young man in a gorgeous robe sat on a white jade bed carved with dragons and phoenixes. Two beautiful female cultivators in sheer gauze robes nestled against his sides.

One of the female cultivators held a Spirit Fruit in her mouth and leaned toward the young man’s face. He met her lips with his own, happily eating the fruit.

The man’s large hands roamed and caressed the two women’s bodies, his posture lazy and carefree.

On a chair beside the jade bed sat an elderly man with graying hair, who turned a blind eye to the young man’s antics.

These two were none other than Xie Xida and the Master of Mist Island, Xie Ming!

「At this moment.」

Xie Ming said flatly, "That person has finally sent someone, after all."

Xie Xida sneered. "A mere Sensing Realm cultivator. Just go and get rid of him."

Logically, the two should have had a father-son relationship, but their current dynamic seemed more like that of a master and servant.

Xie Xida was the master, and Xie Ming was the servant!

Xie Ming frowned. "This son-in-law of the Ye Family is not to be underestimated. I heard that he saved many Outer Sect Disciples while on a mission in the Southern Mang Mountains."

Hugging the beautiful female cultivator, Xie Xida said dismissively, "I’ve heard about that too, and I know more details than you. He only succeeded repeatedly because he had a rare flower given to him by Outer Elder Lu Wei. No matter how strong he is personally, he’s still just a cultivator at the Seventh Layer of Sensing. What, are you afraid of him?"

Xie Ming sighed. "There’s no harm in being cautious."

Xie Xida chuckled darkly. "Fine. If you don’t dare go out, then just close the doors and refuse all guests. In any case, don’t let him disturb my fun."

"I understand," Xie Ming said slowly, giving him a helpless look.

Seeing that he wasn’t leaving, Xie Xida teased him, "What, you want to observe my cultivation process? I don’t mind, but I wonder if these two good disciples of yours are willing?"

Hearing this, the two women beside him blushed, their pretty faces flushing red with embarrassment.

Xie Ming stood up and said in a low voice, "These two are promising seedlings that I’ve cultivated. Go easy on them. Don’t take it too far."

Xie Xida shrugged lazily. "You know me. I’ve always been one to cherish beautiful women."

Xie Ming shook his head, sighed, and turned to leave the pavilion.

...

Fang Cheng followed the young woman in red to Cold Moon Pond.

Deep in the jungle, shrouded in white mist, a clear pond appeared in a forest clearing. Its water shimmered, quiet and deep.

By the pond stood a Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree with a massive crown, its branches stretching out, full of life.

A dense wave of Spiritual Qi washed over him, no less potent than that at Cangwu Mountain’s Cyan Demon Cliff!

It was as if all the Spiritual Qi on Mist Island had gathered in this one spot.

The Loose Cultivators on the outskirts were just getting the leftovers.

On the other side of Cold Moon Pond, an elegant manor sat nestled in the woods, exuding the tranquil aura of a secluded paradise.

The young woman in red pointed ahead. "Your Excellency, that is the Island Lord’s Cave Mansion. Going any further will trigger the Prohibition Array."

Fang Cheng nodded, then flicked a strand of Sword Qi with his finger, sending it toward the manor’s main gate.

ZING!

The Prohibition Array surrounding the manor was triggered, letting out a clear, sword-like ring.

Several figures immediately flew out from within the manor, stopping at the edge of the Prohibition Array to look out warily.

One of them shouted, "Who are you? Why do you act with such disrespect?!"

With his hands behind his back, Fang Cheng said coolly, "Where is your Island Lord? Tell him someone from the Ye Family is here to see him."

The man stated flatly, "The Island Lord has gone to visit friends and hasn’t been back for months. You should return. Come back in a few years."

Fang Cheng sneered and glanced at the young woman in red.

The young woman averted her gaze, not daring to make a sound.

Fang Cheng then asked, "Is Xie Xida here?"

The man replied, "The Young Island Lord isn’t here either."

"Really not here?" A cold glint flashed in Fang Cheng’s eyes.

The man said impatiently, "What would I gain by lying to you? This is a forbidden area on the island. You should leave at once, or we will be forced to drive you away."

Fang Cheng glanced at the Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree and said leisurely, "I heard there is a Spirit Wood on this island that is the root of Mist Island’s Spirit Vein. It couldn’t be this tree, could it?"

The man chuckled. "It is indeed. However, the Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree is protected by a Tier Two Array. You can only look from a distance, not touch it. Otherwise, beware the pain of a lightning strike."

Feigning curiosity and disbelief, Fang Cheng said, "In that case, I’ll have to give it a try!"

With that, he waved his large sleeve.

Two Vajra Gu flew out, making a beeline for the Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree.

KRA-KA-BOOM!

Two bolts of dazzling lightning, each as thick as a water bucket, struck down, hitting the Vajra Gu squarely and knocking them to the ground.

However, the Vajra Gu were completely unharmed. They bathed in the lightning for a moment before beating their wings and flying up again, landing on the trunk of the Dragon-embroidered Golden Wutong Tree.

KRUNCH! KRUNCH!

The Vajra Gu emanated a ferocious aura and began to devour the tree trunk.

Flashes of Thunder Light occasionally appeared in the air around the Spirit Wood, striking the Vajra Gu, but to no avail.

The Vajra Gu clung tightly to the trunk. In just a short while, they had gnawed two deep gashes into it, each about an inch wide and a foot long.

"What are you doing?!" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Seeing this, the people inside the manor were both shocked and furious. They rushed out of the Prohibition Array and flew toward Fang Cheng.

Suddenly, a layer of dark, bluish energy appeared on one of their faces. His body stiffened, and he fell rigidly from the sky.

PLOP!

The cultivator, heavily poisoned, plunged into Cold Moon Pond.

The pond was bottomless. After the cultivator fell in, all movement quickly ceased.

"It’s a Poison Cultivator!"

"Be careful! Find a Rejuvenation Talisman, quickly!"

The cultivators in the manor shouted in alarm and anger.

One of them was Xie Ming’s disciple. Seeing that the situation was dire, he immediately returned to the depths of the manor to find Xie Ming.

...