Senior Fate Crane Takes on a New Disciple

All cultivators who came to participate in the Communal Feast Convention knew that their location was Tianjiang Dragon Manor within the Xi Yue River.

This was once the dragon palace of the Flood Dragon Demon in the Xi Yue River.

But what they didn't know was that the place they were currently in was not Tianjiang Dragon Manor, but a solitary island named Golden Egg Jade Island.

This island was named Golden Egg Jade because it was not located in the present world, but was parasitic within a magical artifact.

The magical artifact was called the Golden Egg Jade Pearl, and thus the island borrowed the name of this artifact.

And this magical artifact was naturally in the hands of Mother Diviner True Person.

For many cultivators, the Communal Feast Convention was actually only tempting to those with low cultivation. In reality, these resources were not even worth mentioning to figures of the same level as Mother Diviner True Person.

Therefore, the Communal Feast Convention had become a gathering for the younger generation, an opportunity for those who had just begun their cultivation journey.

This was why, for so many years, no one knew that the location of the Communal Feast Convention was actually on a solitary island, not at the bottom of the Xi Yue River.

However, this Communal Feast Convention was an exception, because Mother Diviner True Person had specifically invited a distinguished guest.

In order to obtain the help of this distinguished guest, Mother Diviner True Person even went to great lengths, expending considerable effort to search for a Flood Dragon Demon. After more than a decade, she finally found one and killed it.

The remaining insignificant Flood Dragon Demon's physical bodies were distributed to the many cultivators attending the Communal Feast Convention, while the core parts of the body were naturally reserved for the distinguished guest Mother Diviner True Person had been longing for.

At this moment, in a cavern deep within Golden Egg Jade Island.

It was dark and enclosed, like an abyss.

The outer perimeter was guarded by countless Muckworm Children, maintaining strict security.

At the center of the guards was a stone cave. The stone walls above the cave were covered with moss and dust, yet they were carved with intricate patterns and Buddha images, blurred and incomplete.

This place was originally pitch black, yet it was filled with an extreme sense of peace, solemn and eerie.

A few wisps of green smoke occasionally drifted out from the cave, accompanied by a faint scent of sandalwood, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

Behind a delicate and small incense burner, countless egg-sized and fleshy pods were stuck to the wall. These hair-raising, biological-like tissues seemed to be stuck together, forming a wide, fleshy skirt.

Looking up, above the fleshy skirt, the upper body of a woman, nearly half a zhang tall, appeared.

Although the upper body was that of a normal human with normal attire, with bright eyes, white teeth, and a graceful posture.

The lower body, however, was enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who saw it, possessing immense visual impact.

"It's been decades since we last met, Senior. I hope you've been well. Your junior, Mother Diviner, has been eagerly awaiting your arrival."

The woman, who called herself Mother Diviner, was the owner of Golden Egg Jade Island, the renowned Mother Diviner True Person.

With a faint smile from her red lips, as she spoke, the skirt of fleshy eggs beneath her swayed slightly, rolling up two jade-white eggs and placing them in front of her. The jade eggs shattered, releasing golden liquid into a cup, then she pushed one of the cups towards the opposite side.

"I wonder if Senior Fate Crane still remembers the mellow scent of my Egg Yolk Tea?"

And opposite her, a slightly hunched figure was currently seated cross-legged.

The contents of the cup emitted a faint golden glow. In the dim light, the figure's body slowly leaned forward, and an aged hand picked up the cup, revealing his face.

He also had an extremely ordinary human body, dressed in coarse gray and white clothing, but his shoulders and neck were topped with two bizarre and vastly different heads.

One head was that of an ordinary old man, with a weathered face, white hair and eyebrows, and the frailty of old age, as if he had reached extreme old age.

The other head was not human, yet it was as large as a human head, with a pointed beak and a long mouth, a crimson crown on its head, and beneath its black and gray downy feathers, its two eyes were filled with venom. It was clearly a crane's head.

"Hehehe, you venomous old hag. You invited this old man here precisely to help you unlock the ancient treasure beneath the Xi Yue River. Don't think calling me 'Senior' will earn you any pleasantries."

"..."

The large crane head opened its mouth, spewing unrestrained mockery at Mother Diviner True Person. Its sharp voice seemed to be filled with murderous intent and malice, showing no regard for Mother Diviner True Person.

Mother Diviner True Person opposite him was instantly taken aback. Although she had been mentally prepared, she couldn't help but feel her breathing quicken under the taunts, and even the fleshy eggs beneath her stirred slightly.

However, regardless of whether Old Man Fate Crane was invited by her, for the sake of what lay beneath the ancient treasure, she had to endure it.

Furthermore, the opponent's cultivation had reached the terrifying Half-step Stiff God Realm, peak Flesh Rupture Realm, which was not something she dared to offend.

Those who knew Old Man Fate Crane knew that this old fellow had two heads, one human and one crane, inseparable, like one entity.

The crane head's words were always venomous, directed at everyone, and often did not spare the other head.

When she first met Old Man Fate Crane decades ago, she had been mocked and insulted, and it was no different now.

In response, Mother Diviner True Person could only offer a faint smile, trying her best to suppress her emotions and pretend she heard nothing.

Fellow Daoists who knew each other always referred to the human head as Old Man Fate Crane, simply ignoring the crane head's existence.

"Shut up! Don't spout nonsense!"

At this moment, the other old man's head on Old Man Fate Crane's shoulder immediately reprimanded him. Although his voice was somewhat aged, his calm tone was filled with authority.

Despite this, the crane head let out a cold laugh and continued its merciless mockery.

"Oh, oh, oh, the old man's heart is aching, isn't it? You're not thinking of making a move on this old hag, are you? You can actually stomach this thing covered in flesh tumors? If you do, you'd better twist my head to the side, I don't want to be as indiscriminate as you."

"..."

Hearing the crane head's words, it wasn't just Mother Diviner True Person, but even a vein popped out on the human head of Old Man Fate Crane.

The cave fell into a silent and eerie atmosphere.

After a long while, neither party spoke. Suddenly, a Muckworm Child's voice echoed from outside the door.

"True Person, the roster of cultivators for this convention has been compiled. Please review it."

The voice shattered the strange quiet. Mother Diviner True Person took a deep breath and allowed the child to enter.

Soon, a Muckworm Child approached slowly, holding a stack of jade slips. It bowed before Mother Diviner True Person and respectfully presented the slips.

After the Muckworm Child withdrew, Mother Diviner True Person waved her hand gently, causing the numerous jade slips to float before her. She began to examine them one by one.

She reviewed the roster of cultivators participating in the Communal Feast Convention every year. This was related to the arrangements she had made over a decade ago using the Flood Dragon Demon's body.

She had waited for this day for over ten years, and today was the time to reap the rewards of that cycle.

After today, she would gain a new batch of cauldrons, and Golden Egg Jade Island would have some new children.

Old Man Fate Crane's head quietly sipped the Egg Yolk Tea. The crane's head stretched its neck, snatched the cup from in front of Mother Diviner True Person, and drank it down in one gulp. It didn't say anything to provoke Mother Diviner True Person again, instead retreating to its shoulder with a feeling of boredom and closing its eyes to rest.

Soon, Mother Diviner True Person had reviewed more than half of the jade slips. As she looked, her gaze sharpened, and she looked up at Old Man Fate Crane opposite her.

A barely perceptible trace of disgust flashed in the crane's head's eyes. Mother Diviner True Person quickly shifted her gaze back to Old Man Fate Crane's head, her expression a mixture of confusion and amusement.

"When did Senior Fate Crane take on a personal disciple named Yang An?

Why was he sent to the Communal Feast Convention without informing me beforehand? That way, I could have arranged for him to receive extra care."