Chapter 70: Chapter 70: The Supreme Elder’s Personal Disciple

For several days, the members of the Yinluo Sect waited, but there was still no sign of Feng Jiuzhang.

Lu Wei and the other three Outer Elders went into seclusion within the fine Cave Mansions provided by the Xiao Family, but the Outer Disciples were growing restless.

Thanks to the Xiao Family’s warm hospitality, they held several banquets, during which they even sparred with the younger members of the Xiao Family. The atmosphere was quite lively.

The Outer Disciples also sparred amongst themselves a few times, but Fang Cheng did not participate.

His cultivation regimen was quite demanding, and he couldn’t afford to waste a single moment.

Whether it was the Li Hen Demon Light, the Red Nether Condensing Light, or the Taiyi Thunder Pill, they were all Divine Techniques that required a great deal of effort to master.

So as not to cut into the time he spent cultivating his Magical Power, he had to utilize every spare moment to the fullest.

After staying with the Xiao Family for a few days, he discovered something peculiar.

For some unknown reason, every afternoon here, dark clouds would gather, wind and thunder would rage, and a torrential downpour would ensue. Then, by evening, the clouds would scatter, the rain would stop, and the sky would clear.

This happened every single day.

According to Xiao Ye, the climate here was peculiar. It had rained like this continuously for several hundred years.

All the rainwater from the mountains flowed down into the valley.

Every time it rained, several waterfalls like silver ribbons would appear on both sides of the cliffs. It was a magnificent sight and one of the Three Sights of the Xiao Family.

Logically, there should have been a large, deep river at the bottom of the valley. However, the opposite was true!

According to Xiao Ye, the valley floor was riddled with many caverns that led directly to a subterranean river. This vast underground river flowed north, likely emptying into the Abyssal Marsh.

As a result, apart from some flooding when it rained, the valley was now just a dry riverbed strewn with pebbles.

The second of the Xiao Family’s Sights was these deep, interconnected cavern passages!

At Xiao Ye’s invitation, Fang Cheng, along with Chen Yu Yan and Wen Qianqian, also entered one of the caverns for a tour.

The cavern was filled with stalactites of all sizes, set against the multicolored glow of subterranean Spirit Grass, creating a beautiful and soul-stirring sight.

From Xiao Ye, Fang Cheng learned that these caverns even contained many Spirit Stone Veins. During its golden age, the Xiao Family had relied on these Spiritual Ores to produce five Life Talisman Realm masters.

Unfortunately, after a major upheaval 160 years ago, the Xiao Family’s masters were almost completely wiped out. The family had declined, and now only the Patriarch was left as a Life Talisman Cultivator.

Moreover, for the past century, the Xiao Family had been struggling to produce a new generation of talent. Though many descendants had been born under the Patriarch’s leadership, a second Life Talisman Cultivator had yet to emerge!

A Life Talisman Cultivator could live for three hundred years. The Xiao Family’s Patriarch had experienced both the family’s prosperity and its decline—a true witness to the vicissitudes of fortune, which was a sobering thought.

Since there were Spirit Stone Veins, there was bound to be Dao Pattern Spirit Jade.

Fang Cheng asked Xiao Ye to keep an eye out for him, and Xiao Ye happily agreed.

After several days of conversation, Xiao Ye had heard about Fang Cheng’s deeds from a number of people. He was especially envious of his Sword Technique and repeatedly asked for pointers.

Each time Fang Cheng offered a few casual pointers, Xiao Ye treasured them like priceless gems, his heart filled with joy.

The young man, just like Fang Cheng, also dreamed of becoming a Sword Immortal!

The young man said, "They say the Yinluo Sect’s Netherworld Sword Technique is the greatest Sword Technique in the Yun Country. One day, I’m going to join the Yinluo Sect and cultivate it!"

During the wait, Fang Cheng quietly slipped away to refine a Taiyi Thunder Pill. By taking advantage of the unique weather, he finally succeeded in forging one!

And right at that moment, Inner Sect Elder Feng Jiuzhang finally arrived.

However, Feng Jiuzhang had not come alone.

...

「On this day.」

The four Outer Elders, twenty Outer Disciples, a group of Independent Practitioner Array Masters, and the upper echelons of the Xiao Family all gathered on the large terrace outside the Immortal Guest Residence, looking on in anticipation.

Before long, a radiant light appeared in the distant sky.

Within the radiant light was the figure of an old man wearing a straw raincoat.

As the radiant light drew closer, the crowd got a clear look at the old man.

The old man had thick, prominent brows, a square face, and a purple beard. He possessed a majestic and imposing air and was seated upon a Copper Couch held aloft by twelve Dragon Geese.

The Copper Couch was inlaid with precious jades, Yingluo, lamps, tortoiseshell, coral, and colorful pearls. A canopy stretched above it, with fragrant silks hanging below. Behind it stood an immense fan of white jade and emerald, spanning dozens of feet, like a half-moon set against the azure sky. It emanated a spiritual glow and was truly extraordinary.

The old man arrived in the sky above the Xiao Family’s residence. His expression was stern as he looked down on the crowd below.

Lu Wei and the other Outer Elders immediately led the disciples in shouting in unison, "Greetings, Elder Feng!"

Feng Jiuzhang nodded slightly, then turned and spoke to an empty patch of void beside him, "Junior Brother Gao, you should introduce yourself to everyone as well."

A light chuckle echoed from the void.

A mass of black mist surged out of the void, roiling and twisting until it coalesced into a tall, formidable figure.

The newcomer was an immensely tall and powerfully built man. He wore a suit of Profound Iron Armor covered in Demon Patterns that were dizzying to behold.

The man had rugged features, and his eyes flashed with a bright light, filled with an enthralling demonic power that made one afraid to meet his gaze.

Compared to Feng Jiuzhang, this man radiated an astonishing demonic aura that seemed to pierce the heavens, as if a ferocious and terrifying Celestial Demon resided within him.

Feng Jiuzhang said, "Fellow Daoist Lu, I have received an order from the Supreme Elder. Junior Brother Gao will be in charge of this mission. From this day forward, you are all to obey his commands."

A strange look flashed in Lu Wei’s eyes. ’Feng Jiuzhang was more than ten days late. Could it be because of this man?’

Just then, Feng Jiuzhang’s voice suddenly sounded in her mind via spiritual transmission:

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Junior Brother Gao is the Supreme Elder’s closed-door disciple. Do not slight him."

Lu Wei’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly spoke, "Greetings, Elder Gao."

The others followed suit, calling out in unison.

The man smiled slightly and said nonchalantly, "My name is Gao Chong. I’m not an Elder yet, just an ordinary True Disciple of the Yinluo Sect. For this mission, simply perform your duties as planned. If any matter of indecision arises, defer to Senior Brother Feng’s judgment."

"I understand," Lu Wei said with a nod.

Gao Chong’s smile vanished. He looked at Feng Jiuzhang and said, "Senior Brother Feng, time is of the essence. I’ll head down first."

With that, his figure dissolved into a cloud of black mist and slowly dissipated, as if vanishing into thin air.

’Netherworld Dharma Body...’

Watching this, the name of a Divine Technique surfaced in Fang Cheng’s mind.

One of the Yinluo Sect’s nine ultimate techniques, the Supreme Body Refining Technique, Netherworld Dharma Body!

Cultivating this technique not only granted one the immense strength of a Divine Demon, but it also allowed one to refine their physical body to the extreme, transforming into nothingness to travel through the Endless Void!

This Yinluo Sect True Disciple named Gao Chong had clearly accomplished this.

This was the first True Disciple Fang Cheng had ever seen.

After Gao Chong had left, Feng Jiuzhang turned to the dozen or so Independent Practitioner Array Masters, his face devoid of expression, and said, "All of you, come with me to repair the Sealing Array."

With that, he waved his wide sleeve. A brilliant ray of Demonic Light shot out, enveloped the group, and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Only then did Lu Wei lead Fang Cheng and the others, flying down toward the bottom of the valley.

...