"You’re going to Port City?"

"We’ve only ever seen Port City on TV, never in real life."

As they left the hotel, Jiang Shishi said excitedly, "When we first came here, we were thinking about finding some time to visit Port City, see Tsim Sha Tsui, and Victoria Harbor."

Gu Zhao waved his hand dismissively. "It’s not as bustling as Wangfujing in Yandu, really."

Xiao Ya asked, "Have you been there before?"

"I went during middle school." Gu Zhao nodded. "Even back then, I felt it wasn’t as good as it is here. Now, Yangcheng and Peng City are changing by the day. They’ve long since surpassed it."

Jiang Shishi said, "But the childhood nostalgia filter is still there. I’ve always wanted to go at least once."

"After one visit, that filter will shatter." Gu Zhao laughed. "Port City isn’t as big as you imagine. The most prosperous areas are just a few streets, and the rest is actually quite old.

"Take Temple Street from *Triad*, for example. It sounds so grand, but it’s really just an open-air night market. Is it really that impressive to fight your way from one end of the street to the other? Any thug from a second or third-tier city in the country could do that."

Hearing this, both women laughed.

"It’s a shame we just started our jobs and can’t just take time off. Otherwise, we’d love to go stroll around Port City with you," Jiang Shishi said regretfully.

Gu Zhao asked, "Does the folk orchestra require you to clock in every day too?"

Xiao Ya explained, "Our daily routine is just practice and performances. And since performances are often on weekends, we don’t have a standard Monday-to-Friday workweek. We usually take our days off during the week, but we don’t get any long vacations."

Jiang Shishi added, "We’re still new, so we don’t get assigned to some of the weekend performances yet. That’s why we were able to go to White Cloud Mountain last time. But it’s going to get harder and harder."

Xiao Ya chimed in, "But since our video went viral this time, we promised to collaborate more with the orchestra, so we should have a bit more freedom."

"The orchestra only has a few hundred followers on Doukuai, while Xiaoya and I both have a million!" Jiang Shishi nodded repeatedly, then sneered. "A few of those manipulative girls in the group wanted you... AHEM, they were being all passive-aggressive, but I shut them down directly. It’s only because Xiaoya is so kindhearted, otherwise..."

"Alright, alright, isn’t everything fine now?" Xiao Ya cut Jiang Shishi off, glancing at Gu Zhao. "The orchestra benefits from this, so we’ll have more freedom in the future."

Jiang Shishi huffed indignantly but nodded. Then she said to Gu Zhao, "But Port City is a free port, after all. A lot of cosmetics are cheaper there than on the mainland. You should bring some back for us!"

Gu Zhao had no objection. "Sure, what do you want?"

Jiang Shishi smiled. "I’ll make a list for you when we get back!"

...

Early the next morning, Gu Zhao met up with Taoist Yi Hong at the high-speed rail station.

Accompanying Taoist Yi Hong were the same two Daoists as before: the elder one named Zheng Ning, and the younger one named Sheng Lin.

Both were very polite to Gu Zhao. They had already heard from Taoist Yi Hong that Gu Zhao was someone who could cultivate Inner Breath True Qi and draw an Enlightenment Five Thunders Talisman. Therefore, not only did they show no strange looks, but they even treated him with respectful courtesy.

Once aboard the high-speed train, Taoist Yi Hong remarked with a sigh, "Things are so convenient now. It only takes an hour to get from Yangcheng to Port City."

"Have you been to Port City before, Senior?" Gu Zhao asked.

"Once," Taoist Yi Hong said. "Over a decade ago. Back then, I had to transfer through Peng City, and even that took several hours."

The high-speed train sped along as the group chatted.

Although the Five Thunders Order had already acknowledged Taoist Yi Hong, Gu Zhao still subtly tested his character during their conversation. He ultimately concluded that Taoist Yi Hong’s moral fiber was much stronger than Taoist Yan Song’s.

Taoist Yan Song was just a shameless old lecher, but Taoist Yi Hong was definitely a kind and amiable elder. Moreover, he was a devout believer who traveled year-round to collect scattered Dragon Gate Classics, earning him great respect within the Taoist Sect.

"The *Golden Locking Jade Technique*?" Taoist Yi Hong remarked upon hearing that Gu Zhao practiced a Golden Core Sect cultivation technique. "So it’s from the lineage of Chongyang Master. Not many people practice this set of scriptures these days."

Although the Quanzhen Dao could be said to have been founded by Chongyang Master, the teachings were later passed down through seven disciples, each of whom established their own lineages and cultivation classics. As a result, fewer Daoists now practice techniques like the *Golden Locking Jade Technique* or the *Chongyang Teachings Collection*.

For example, the Quanzhen Dragon Gate Dao, the most widespread lineage in later generations, mostly focuses on Ancestor Qiu’s *Panxi Collection* and *Great Pill Direct Pointing*, as well as later compilations and refinements like the *Essentials of Inner Alchemy* or the *Essentials of the Golden Core*.

"But in the end, all paths lead to the same destination. The variations in these breathing techniques are mainly to suit different people," Taoist Yi Hong said. "After all, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is thin. It’s incredibly difficult to absorb Spiritual Qi and refine Qi into its true form."

Taoist Zheng Ning and Sheng Lin Taoist nodded repeatedly, looking at Gu Zhao with envy.

They had experienced Taoist Yi Hong’s True Qi and dreamed of achieving it themselves, but they hadn’t been able to sense Spiritual Qi even after more than a decade. How could they not be envious of someone as uniquely gifted as Gu Zhao?

"I suggest you take a look at Taoist Zhang’s *Qi Body Origin Flow*," Taoist Yi Hong said. "It’s a cultivation technique that combines both internal and external skills. Paired with the Eight Vajra Skills, the results are quite good."

He paused, glanced at the two beside him, and added, "At least, the results have been very good for me. If you’re willing, we can discuss it with each other."

Taoist Zheng Ning and Sheng Lin Taoist: o(TωT)o 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Gu Zhao suppressed a laugh and nodded, saying he would check it out when he had time.

Then, Taoist Yi Hong began to introduce their destination, the Penglai Immortal Pavilion. "Speaking of which, the Penglai Immortal Pavilion is actually an offshoot branch of Yangcheng’s Yuanfa Palace. A hundred years ago, when the Divine Land was in turmoil, a few Daoists traveled south to Port City and built this Penglai Immortal Pavilion."

"So for this centennial grand rite at Penglai Immortal Pavilion, they also invited Yuanfa Palace?" Gu Zhao asked.

"I didn’t ask, but I assume they did," Taoist Yi Hong said.

"Yandu White Cloud Temple, West Capital Eight Immortals Palace, and Yangcheng’s Yuanfa Palace... that’s quite the lineup. It’s like the Celestial Master’s Mansion calling a meeting with the Shangqing Sect and the Spiritual Treasure Sect," Gu Zhao chuckled.

...

An hour passed quickly. When the group arrived in Port City, staff from the Penglai Immortal Pavilion were already there to pick them up.

Taoist Yi Hong had already informed them ahead of time, so the staff didn’t question the extra person. They simply escorted the four of them into a car and drove them all the way to the Penglai Immortal Pavilion.

Taoist Yi Hong was truly a man of venerable age and high prestige. As Gu Zhao followed him out of the car, he saw a crowd of people waiting at the entrance to the Immortal Pavilion. A middle-aged Daoist stood at the center of the group, likely the master of the Penglai Immortal Pavilion.

However, Gu Zhao wasn’t focused on this man. Instead, his gaze fell upon three people standing at the edge of the crowd.

An old Daoist, a middle-aged Daoist, and a young Daoist who looked to be in his thirties.

Gu Zhao blinked. Following the guidance of the Five Thunders Order in his Sea of Consciousness, he looked toward the last of the three, the young Daoist.

’Great, another one. What am I going to do if there aren’t enough Thunder Seeds to go around?’