High upon the dais,
Seeing Luoxuan break through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, Tongtian wore a look of surprise.
Then, clapping his hands in approval, he smiled and said:
"Splendid!"
"Luoxuan, our Jiejiao has countless disciples, yet very few in the outer sect manage to reach the realm of the Taiyi Golden Immortal. After the Sanxiao sisters and Zhao Gongming, you are the very first."
"This shows how diligently you apply yourself in your daily cultivation, and as your master, I am exceedingly pleased."
"You must all take a leaf out of Luoxuan's book!"
While praising Luoxuan,
Tongtian did not forget to earnestly instruct the other Jiejiao disciples, urging them to take Luoxuan as their role model.
Everyone's faces turned sour with resentment.
They had originally come to watch Luoxuan get disciplined by Tongtian, never expecting that the tables would turn and they would end up being lectured instead.
Luoxuan cupped his hands in a modest salute and said:
"Your disciple lacks talent; whatever achievements I have today are entirely due to Master's guidance."
Tongtian wore a gentle smile.
Seeing that Luoxuan remained neither arrogant nor impetuous in the face of praise, proving his steady and composed state of mind, Tongtian held him in even higher regard.
With a wave of his hand,
a fiery-red spiritual pearl flew out and hovered before Luoxuan.
Tongtian said:
"This is the medium-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Fire Spirit Bead. Since you cultivate the Dao of Fire, I bestow this treasure upon you for self-protection."
"This item was originally one of the Five Elements Spiritual Pearls."
"Should you be fortunate enough to find the other four, you will be able to assemble a top-grade spiritual treasure."
Joy bloomed across Luoxuan's face.
Resolving his trouble with the Nine Turns Mysterious Art had already been a stroke of good fortune, but he never expected such an unexpected windfall.
He stepped forward in haste and received the Fire Spirit Bead.
"Many thanks, Master!"
Seeing Luoxuan acquire a spiritual treasure out of nowhere,
inner sect disciples like Duobao merely watched calmly—they were already accustomed to receiving treasures bestowed by Tongtian and thought nothing of it.
However, it filled the crowd of outer sect disciples with burning envy.
That was an innate spiritual treasure!
In the entire Great Wilderness, innate spiritual treasures were limited in number, and every single one was immensely precious.
More importantly,
Tongtian's willingness to bestow a spiritual treasure signified how highly he thought of Luoxuan. Once one caught the Sage's eye, their future prospects would be nothing short of dazzling.
Envy and jealousy intertwined within everyone's hearts.
Some even went so far as to maliciously speculate:
Perhaps Luoxuan had broken through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm long ago and was merely putting on a show to catch the Sage's attention.
Sensing the jealous gazes surrounding him, Luoxuan's expression remained completely unperturbed.
Only the mediocre are never envied!
……
Once this matter concluded,
Tongtian resumed his discourse on the Dao.
Rich and dense Dao rhythms permeated the entirety of Biyou Palace, and every disciple became immersed in the lingering, melodious sounds of the Dao.
Luoxuan returned to his seat and began to listen to the Sage's expounding of the Dao.
Time flew by,
and a year passed in the blink of an eye, though the scenery on Jin'ao Island remained as it had always been.
As the sounds of the Dao faded,
Luoxuan opened his eyes, a look of lingering reluctance crossing his face.
As expected of a Sage's discourse on the Dao.
Many lingering doubts he once held regarding the cultivation methods of the Nine Turns Mysterious Art were instantly swept away after listening to the Sage's teachings.
Even his realm, which had just broken through and remained unstable, had now solidified completely.
Dong!
Tongtian struck his jade-beaded drum once, and the disciples finally snapped out of their trances.
They all looked toward Tongtian, knowing that their master must have instructions for them.
With a solemn expression, Tongtian said:
"At present, the Wu and Yi clans are locked in ceaseless strife. The heavenly Tribulation has arrived, and tribulation Qi is rising everywhere across the Great Wilderness. You must all seal your cave dwellings and quietly recite the Huangting Scripture, lest your minds be clouded by the tribulation Qi and your lives cut short."
Hearing this, the disciples felt a chill in their hearts.
Naturally, they were well aware of the terrifying nature of the heaven and earth Tribulation, and they answered in unison:
"We obey your decree, Master!"
Tongtian nodded slightly.
"This discourse on the Dao is now concluded. You may all disperse."
With that, his figure shifted and vanished from where he stood. Only then did the disciples rise, each returning to their own dwellings.
Luoxuan also stood up from his straw mat.
Suddenly,
he felt a piercing gaze fixed intently upon his back.
Luoxuan turned around.
He saw Dingguangxian standing in place, staring at him with unblinking eyes, his expression brimming with malice.
He looked like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, poised to strike.
The corners of Luoxuan's mouth curved upward.
"I wonder if Senior Brother Dingguang has any instruction for me?"
Seeing Luoxuan looking so pleased with himself, Dingguangxian's face turned as dark as water. Though consumed by intense hatred and helplessness, he could only let out a cold snort.
He flicked his sleeve and stalked away.
Watching Dingguangxian's retreating back, Luoxuan's eyes flashed with murderous intent.
He was by no means a magnanimous person.
Since Dingguangxian had dared to target him this time, he could not blame Luoxuan for repaying eye for eye and blood for blood. Luoxuan mentally placed Dingguangxian on his death list.
At that moment,
Luoxuan was already turning over in his mind how best to expose Dingguangxian's identity as a traitor.
A double-crossing turncoat must die!
"Junior Brother Luoxuan."
Suddenly,
a voice shattered his train of thought.
He saw Zhao Gongming, dressed in a black Daoist robe and sporting a full beard, walking toward him.
Zhao Gongming laughed heartily and said:
"I wonder if Junior Brother Luoxuan has some free time to gather with us at the Three Immortals Island?"
Zhao Gongming possessed a bold and unrestrained disposition, and in his daily life, he took the greatest pleasure in making friends from all corners of the world. Seeing Luoxuan make his mark today, he was instantly moved to befriend him.
Luoxuan pondered for a moment.
If someone had spoken up for him earlier, things wouldn't have reached the point where Dingguangxian could act so brazenly.
As the great man had once said:
Make as many friends as possible, and as few enemies as possible.
Wanting to expose Dingguangxian's identity as a spy for the Buddhist Sect would be extremely difficult on his own, especially since his voice carried little weight within Jiejiao.
But Zhao Gongming was different.
Though an outer sect disciple, his status was in no way inferior to that of an inner sect disciple.
If he were to...
Thoughts raced through Luoxuan's mind, and he smiled in response:
"Since Senior Brother extends the invitation, how could I dare to refuse?"
"Splendid!"
Zhao Gongming let out a hearty laugh, grabbed Luoxuan by the arm, conjured a streak of rainbow light, and soared away toward the Three Immortals Island.
Zhao Gongming and the Sanxiao sisters were sworn siblings.
Therefore,
even though the Three Immortals Island was the Daoist sanctuary of the Sanxiao sisters, Zhao Gongming was free to come and go as he pleased.
The Three Immortals Island was wreathed in misty clouds, with flowers blooming in profusion.
Though it lacked the grand and majestic aura of Jin'ao Island, it possessed a delicate and exquisite charm, truly worthy of being the dwelling place of three female immortals.
"System, check in at the Three Immortals Island!"
The moment Luoxuan stepped onto the Three Immortals Island, he spoke to the system in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Checked in at the Three Immortals Island. Congratulations, host, you have obtained the low-grade innate spiritual root—the Crimson Sun Jujube Tree!]
Simultaneously,
an introduction to the Crimson Sun Jujube Tree surfaced in Luoxuan's mind.
The Crimson Sun Jujube Tree:
Bears fruit once every three thousand years, and it ripens once every three thousand years, yielding forty-nine Crimson Sun Jujubes per harvest.
Crimson Sun Jujubes:
Brimming with rich fire-attribute spiritual energy.
Not only can they increase magical power and elevate one's cultivation realm, but they also enhance the might of fire-type divine abilities. For fire-attribute cultivators, they were treasures of immeasurable value.
"To think it's a low-grade innate spiritual root; this trip was truly worthwhile."
Luoxuan rejoiced inwardly.
As he gazed at the Three Immortals Island before him,
and then thought of the countless islands scattered like stars around Jin'ao Island, a wave of burning ambition surged within his heart.
"Junior Brother Luoxuan,"
"Pray make yourself entirely at home, treat this place just like your own."
Zhao Gongming offered a most enthusiastic hospitality.
……
A few days later,
riding upon a Fire Crow, Luoxuan departed from the Three Immortals Island.
Recalling the warm hospitality he had received at the Three Immortals Island over the past few days, a look of comfortable satisfaction involuntarily crossed his face.
The scenery had been breathtaking.
The spiritual fruits and spiritual wines had been exquisite.
And Senior Sister Yunxiao, dressed in her long purple gown, had possessed a deeply captivating charm as well...
Ahem!
Luoxuan banished the wild fancies from his mind and steered the Fire Crow back toward his own Fire Dragon Island.
"System,"
"I wish to claim my reward."
Because circumstances had been inconvenient earlier, Luoxuan had not claimed the reward for checking in at the Three Immortals Island, instead leaving it stored within the system space until this very moment.