Lu Yu seemed impatient to go and present himself. He truly had a talent for living off women, and that very day, he quietly left Huanglong Prefecture alone.

Even Lu Shanshan was caught completely off guard.

But it was very much in character for Lu Yu.

He even left a note, mysteriously saying that he would be back soon.

Bai Yuan rolled his eyes after reading the note.

’Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west... The return of the ultimate live-in son-in-law?’

Although Lu Yu was gone, the Lu Family had now established a firm foothold in Huanglong Prefecture. That, combined with the stipend from Marquis Yongzhuang, was more than enough for Lu Shanshan to live very well.

...

Not long after Lu Yu left, the war between Xuan Yang and the Demon Sect intensified once more.

Demon Sect experts continuously poured south through the breach in Dingzhou, flooding into the Northern States and causing them immense suffering.

To address this, Grand Tutor Xuanyang personally visited the Celestial Profound Sect—the foremost sect in the Northern Territory—and stayed for three days.

After the Grand Tutor descended the mountain, the Celestial Profound Sect immediately ordered eight hundred elders and disciples to go down and reinforce the Northern Thirteen States.

Ling Province was, naturally, no exception.

...

"I heard that the one from the Celestial Profound Sect coming to Ling Province this time is Daoist Cangsong."

Lu Shanshan examined the intelligence report with a serious expression.

The Celestial Profound Sect’s reputation as the foremost sect in the Northern Territory was no empty boast; its foundations were unfathomably deep.

Even before the Xuan Yang dynasty was established, the Celestial Profound Sect had been the overlord of the Northern Territory.

Back when the Grand Ancestor Emperor was conquering the realm and drove the Demon Sect to the Northern Plains, it was only with the Celestial Profound Sect’s help that he succeeded so smoothly.

Unlike the great sects of the Central Plains, the Celestial Profound Sect combined the heritages of the Three Teachings into one.

It was said that the Celestial Profound Sect had three main branches, corresponding to the Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist heritages, which made it something of a hodgepodge.

And Daoist Cangsong, who was coming to Ling Province this time, was naturally an Elder from the Daoist Family branch.

Besides Cangsong Taoist, he was also bringing dozens of disciples with him, and they would arrive in Ling Province in the coming days.

Jiang Yan frowned slightly. "The Celestial Profound Sect is powerful and has always been overbearing. I’m afraid their arrival in Ling Province will bring a great deal of trouble."

She was from the Jiang Family and had a profound scholarly upbringing, giving her a deep understanding of the world’s major powers.

The Celestial Profound Sect had stood firm in the Northern Territory for a thousand years; its strength was naturally formidable.

However, they had chosen to look on coldly from the sidelines during the Demon Sect’s invasion. If the Grand Tutor hadn’t personally intervened, the Celestial Profound Sect might have remained silent indefinitely.

Even Jiang Changping would have to tread carefully when dealing with such a behemoth.

It was impossible to know whether the Celestial Profound Sect’s arrival would be a blessing or a curse for Ling Province.

Bai Yuan, however, simply stood to the side listening in silence, offering no opinion.

He had long heard that the Celestial Profound Sect wielded immense influence in the Northern Territory. It was only because Ling Province was so remote that the sect hadn’t already stationed its elders and disciples there. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Jiang Yan looked toward Bai Yuan. "Sect Leader Bai, what are your thoughts?"

She had to admit that this young Sect Leader, who was two years her junior, surpassed her by a wide margin in both martial arts and temperament.

Sometimes, even her father, Jiang Changping, would make a point of asking for Bai Yuan’s opinion.

Bai Yuan shrugged. "We wait and see."

The people from the Celestial Profound Sect hadn’t even arrived in Ling Province yet. Any action would be premature.

Jiang Yan nodded.

Although she was worried, it was just as Bai Yuan had said: until the situation became clear, it was best for Ling Province not to make any drastic moves.

...

「On the streets of Huanglong Prefecture.」

A young man and woman were particularly eye-catching.

The man was handsome and refined, the woman graceful and beautiful. Most importantly, a single glance at their clothing revealed they were not from Ling Province.

Wearing jade pendants at their waists, in particular, was something only people from the Central Plains did; the people of Ling Province would never do such a thing.

"Junior Sister, do you think Immortal Cave Mansions really exist in this world?"

The man spoke slowly, his tone full of interest.

The woman just smiled and shook her head slightly, not saying a word.

"Junior Sister Zhou, I know our Daoist Sect values tranquility and inaction, but it’s not good to be silent all the time."

The woman remained silent. Anyone who didn’t know better might have thought she was mute.

She glanced at the senior brother beside her and shook her head again.

’This senior brother of mine is great in every way, except for one thing: he actually believes our master’s talk about transcending mortality and ascending to the heavens as an Immortal. How could there be any Immortals in this world?’

"Senior Brother, our Martial Uncle will arrive in Ling Province in three days. We need to hurry back."

"No rush, no rush."

The man waved his hand dismissively.

This pair, a senior brother and junior sister, were among the many disciples the Celestial Profound Sect had sent to Ling Province.

The man’s name was Xu Hui, and the woman’s was Zhou Yun.

They both shared the same master, so they were naturally very close. Xu Hui had a penchant for wandering through mountains in search of Immortals. Upon hearing rumors of an Immortal Cave Mansion in Ling Province, he had excitedly dragged Zhou Yun away from the main group to rush ahead to Huanglong Prefecture.

Zhou Yun was long accustomed to this sort of thing.

"Senior Brother, I’ve heard this place is full of hidden masters. We should keep a low profile."

Xu Hui scoffed. "What kind of masters could a small, remote city possibly have?"

The two of them hailed from the Celestial Profound Sect. Across the entire Northern Territory, there were very few powers they deemed worthy of their attention, and Ling Province was certainly not among them.

Zhou Yun frowned in resignation and lowered her head, remaining silent.

...

"Who goes there?"

In front of Shenfu Mountain, a squad of Mountain Guard Disciples grew wary as they saw Xu Hui and Zhou Yun slowly approaching.

The Divine Mansion Sect was not a place just anyone could enter as they pleased.

However, the lead Mountain Guard Disciple didn’t act rashly, as he could sense that the young man and woman before him were no simple folk.

Zhou Yun spoke slowly. "My senior brother and I wish to enter the mountain to look around. We would appreciate it if you could accommodate us."

The lead Mountain Guard Disciple’s brow furrowed.

’Do they think Shenfu Mountain is some common attraction like Baihua Valley?’

Had it been anyone else, he would have impatiently driven them away by now, but this time he suppressed his annoyance. "You two, this is the gate of the Divine Mansion Sect. Non-disciples are forbidden from entering."

Xu Hui stepped forward.

He smiled faintly, his eyes meeting those of the lead Mountain Guard Disciple.

The next moment, the Mountain Guard Disciple’s expression went vacant.

"Let them pass."

The other disciples sensed something was wrong and were about to step forward to investigate, but then they too inadvertently met Xu Hui’s strange gaze.

In just a few moments, all the guards at the gate were standing stock-still, as if turned to stone.

Xu Hui said, "Let’s go."

With his hands clasped behind his back, he swaggered into Shenfu Mountain.

Zhou Yun sighed in resignation.

This senior brother of hers was highly skilled and exceptionally talented, but having been born into one of the great families of the Celestial Profound Sect, he was inevitably arrogant and unruly.

He had caused no end of trouble in his past searches for Immortals. It was only thanks to his status as a disciple of the Celestial Profound Sect that he hadn’t been beaten to death long ago.

Seeing that Xu Hui was already walking away, Zhou Yun could only follow him.

...

"It really does have the look of a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land."

Xu Hui commented critically as he walked.

In his quest for Immortals, he had learned from many masters, even capturing several expert Tomb Raiders from Xuan Yang to teach him the art of locating dragon veins and pressure points.

With his mastery of feng shui, a commission to have him select a tomb site would cost at least eight hundred taels of silver, non-negotiable.

A Brass Compass appeared in Xu Hui’s hand. The needle on its face, as if drawn by some unseen presence, began to turn slowly before finally pointing in a single direction.

"Now this is interesting."

Xu Hui’s eyes lit up.

This was no ordinary Compass. It was said to be the most prized treasure of a Tomb Raider, a Faqiu Divine Officer, specially crafted for finding Immortal Tombs. The two of them had hit it off, and the man had gifted the Brass Compass to Xu Hui.

Grave robbing was a profession looked down upon by even the lowest of trades, so for a prestigious disciple of the Celestial Profound Sect like Xu Hui to show interest in the craft, that Divine Officer was naturally overjoyed.

Zhou Yun looked at the Compass in Xu Hui’s hand, her own expression showing a flicker of interest.

She had seen the Compass many times, but its needle had always been perfectly still. She had assumed it was broken, but it seemed there was more to it than she thought.

Xu Hui couldn’t help but quicken his pace.

He led Zhou Yun as they cut through Shenfu Mountain.

Fifteen minutes later, the two of them arrived at a seemingly ordinary hill.

Xu Hui frowned.

This hill was far too ordinary. Feng shui was about wind and water, yet this place neither blocked the wind nor gathered water. Even a mere fifth-grade official would scorn this location for a burial plot.

But having finally found a place that made his Compass stir, how could Xu Hui possibly give up so easily?

He immediately led Zhou Yun up the hill.

Xu Hui walked to the very top of the hill.

He found the spot with the widest field of view and sat down on the ground.

His fingers formed a spell sign, moving through a series of rapid, dazzling changes.

Zhou Yun and Xu Hui were both disciples of the Daoist Sect and were familiar with many of its spells, but she had never seen the Spell Xu Hui was now forming.

As Xu Hui formed the Spell, he began to chant an incantation.

"Heaven and earth, yin and yang, the three realms and the Netherworld... Ere the void is reached, the yin spirit is unclear..."

Stanza after stanza of a strange and obscure Taoist Scripture flowed from Xu Hui’s mouth.

Zhou Yun was long used to Xu Hui’s peculiar methods, so she paid it little mind. The main reason was that deep down, she simply didn’t believe Immortals existed in this world.

The Daoist Sect had existed for ten thousand years, but the most recent recorded ascension to immortality dated all the way back to the Ancient Era.

At that time, even the Founding Ancestor of the Daoist Sect hadn’t yet been born.

It was for this very reason that almost no one in the Daoist Sect spoke of transcending mortality and ascending to immortality anymore. Alchemy and martial cultivation were now the mainstream.

But just as Zhou Yun thought this would end uneventfully, just like all the other times—

The hill beneath their feet suddenly began to tremble.

The change startled Zhou Yun, and she stared in disbelief at the trembling sand and stones at her feet.

A fervent light blazed in Xu Hui’s eyes. He licked his lips, and his chanting quickened.

As Xu Hui’s chanting accelerated, the hill began to shake more and more violently.

Finally, a miraculous scene unfolded.

Xu Hui was enveloped in a white light, looking extraordinarily divine.

But in the next instant!

With a blood-curdling scream, Xu Hui vanished into thin air right before Zhou Yun’s eyes.

Zhou Yun felt the hair on her entire body stand on end.

She felt as if she were being stared down by some ancient, vicious beast.

She had no time to wonder whether Xu Hui was dead or alive; all she wanted was to get out of this cursed place as quickly as possible.

The hill wasn’t large, and with Zhou Yun’s Body Technique, it only took her the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to reach the foot of the hill.

Just as she spotted the familiar boulder at the bottom of the hill—

a young man appeared before her.

In a panic born of extreme fear, Zhou Yun reacted instinctively, striking out at the young man with her palm without a second thought.

Right now, she just wanted to leave this bizarre mountain, to get away from Huanglong Prefecture.

The young man’s brow furrowed, and he didn’t hold back.

He raised his hand, and though he moved second, his strike landed first.

Before Zhou Yun’s palm could reach him, he slapped her across the face, sending her flying.

Zhou Yun crashed into a large tree. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the young man’s indifferent voice.

"Take her away... and lock her up."