Fu Xian Island

"Fellow cultivator, what would you like to buy? Our shop's magical artifacts and medicinal pills are renowned throughout the Cultivation World."

"I'll look around first." As Yue Qianchou spoke, he surveyed the items displayed on the shelves. Just as the shopkeeper had said, the shops on Fu Xian Island mainly sold magical artifacts and medicinal pills. After looking for a while, Yue Qianchou asked, "Shopkeeper, are you the one in charge here?"

The shopkeeper was taken aback, unsure why he was asking, but smiled. "An elder of our sect is stationed here. Still, I can make the decisions regarding sales. What would you like to buy, fellow cultivator?"

Yue Qianchou smiled. "I want to see your elder." Seeing the shopkeeper hesitate, he added, "I have an important matter to discuss with your elder."

While the shopkeeper was still pondering, an extraordinary-looking young man and woman emerged from the inner room, followed by an old man. The shopkeeper beamed and called out, "Young Palace Lord, Miss." Both the young man and woman nodded in acknowledgment.

Whose Young Palace Lord and Miss were they? Yue Qianchou looked toward the pair. The man carried himself with remarkable bearing, while the woman was stunningly beautiful, not the least bit inferior to Qu Ping'er. Yue Qianchou could not help looking at her twice more.

The young man and woman merely glanced at Yue Qianchou without paying him any mind. Yue Qianchou's appearance truly was not the sort that easily drew attention. Reaching the shop entrance, the pair turned and bowed to the old man behind them. "Martial Uncle, please stay."

The old man nodded. "Give your mother my regards when you return." After exchanging a few polite words, the young man and woman turned and left. The old man also turned toward the inner room.

"Elder Qin." The shopkeeper called out and walked respectfully to the old man, who had stopped. "Elder, this fellow cultivator says he has an important matter to discuss with you." As he spoke, he pointed at Yue Qianchou.

"Oh?" The old man turned back to look at Yue Qianchou, sizing him up from head to toe. Puzzled, he asked, "What business does this little brother have with me?"

Yue Qianchou did not dare put on any airs now. He hurried over and bowed, addressing him as the shopkeeper had. "Elder Qin." Then he took the Fu Xian Token from his storage pouch and handed it over.

The moment Elder Qin saw what Yue Qianchou had produced, his eyelids twitched. He took it and examined it, confirming that it was genuine. He immediately said, "Come in with me." Yue Qianchou respectfully followed him into the inner room.

The shopkeeper had seen the token as well. Watching the two enter, he muttered, "Was that the Fu Xian Token? It's been a long time since I heard of an outsider arriving with one."

Just as dawn was breaking, Yue Qianchou left Hundred Flower Valley with a man. This man was Elder Qin's disciple, Cheng Gengqing, who was specifically responsible for transporting items between Fu Xian Island and Hundred Flower Valley. Today, on his master's orders, he was taking Yue Qianchou back to Fu Xian Island.

After the two left the grand formation of Hundred Flower Valley, Cheng Gengqing took out a small bronze crane. He formed several hand seals and cast them at it before tossing it into the air. The bronze crane grew with the wind, instantly transforming into a lifelike giant immortal crane that circled overhead before slowly descending in front of them.

Cheng Gengqing leaped onto the crane's back and looked at Yue Qianchou with a smile. "Get on!" Yue Qianchou immediately jumped up as well. Cheng Gengqing formed another hand seal and shouted, "Rise!" The giant crane cried out and shot into the sky with a whoosh. Caught off guard, Yue Qianchou nearly got thrown off. The immortal crane circled twice, found its direction, and flew south.

They flew at tremendous speed. Standing atop it, the wind resistance was so fierce it nearly blew them away. Yet no matter how poor Yue Qianchou's cultivation was, once he circulated his spiritual power, he could still stand steadily.

Seeing Yue Qianchou's earlier embarrassment, Cheng Gengqing could not help asking with a smile, "Is this your first time riding a flying magical artifact?"

"Yes. I've never ridden one before." Yue Qianchou did not know what he should call him, so he simply answered directly.

Cheng Gengqing seemed to see through his thoughts. "Since you came bearing the Fu Xian Token, you will be a fellow disciple from now on. Fu Xian Island is unlike other sects; we do not divide disciples by generation after generation. Seniority is determined entirely by strength. Those in the Qi Refining stage address those in the Foundation Establishment Realm as Martial Uncle, and so on. I am at the Core Formation stage, though I cannot quite see through your cultivation. What level have you reached?"

Why the hell had Guan Yu never told me this? Yue Qianchou gave a bitter smile. "I'm Level Ten Qi Refining. By that reasoning, I should call you Patriarch Cheng." He had not expected his seniority in Qingguang Sect to be so high, only to become someone else's grand-disciple here instead.

"You needn't feel awkward. This is perfectly normal on Fu Xian Island. Perhaps today I am your patriarch, but in two years, I may have to call you Martial Uncle." Cheng Gengqing smiled.

"Patriarch Cheng must be joking. How could that be possible?" Yue Qianchou replied. Cheng Gengqing was easygoing, and the two chatted and laughed all the way.

Yue Qianchou had flown through the skies in airplanes in his previous life, but anyone with a healthy body could ride an airplane. This thing, however, was truly impossible to ride without cultivation. If, while an airplane was flying, you stood outside instead of sitting in the cabin, you would know exactly what it felt like. Still, it had its advantages. Standing above, one could take in the magnificent rivers and mountains below at a single glance.

After flying for over half a day, there was no land visible below them, only a vast, boundless sea. Yue Qianchou knew they should be close to Fu Xian Island. Sure enough, before long, an island appeared on the sea, shrouded in mist and clouds. Cheng Gengqing smiled. "Fu Xian Island is up ahead."

Only when they drew near did Yue Qianchou discover that what had looked like a small island from afar was of unknowable size up close. The immortal crane descended and slowed. Just before landing, Cheng Gengqing cast a hand seal toward the depths of the mist. The clouds parted to reveal a path, and the crane carried them inside.

After passing through the clouds, Yue Qianchou looked back and could not help clicking his tongue in wonder. From outside, the island appeared wrapped in mist, but from within, there was nothing at all to be seen. It was likely another grand formation protecting the island. Looking down again, the pavilions and towers truly gave it the air of an earthly immortal realm. Worthy indeed of the Righteous Path's foremost sect—judging by the imposing aura of these buildings alone, it surpassed Qingguang Sect by several degrees.

The immortal crane landed in a plaza, and the two jumped down. Cheng Gengqing used a spell to put away the crane, then said, "Follow me." With that, he led Yue Qianchou toward an enormous building before the plaza. Many people greeted Cheng Gengqing along the way. From far off, Yue Qianchou saw the massive three-story structure. On the plaque of the first floor were three great characters gleaming with golden light: Penglai Pavilion.

After Cheng Gengqing exchanged a few words with the guards at the entrance, he led Yue Qianchou inside. The moment he entered, Yue Qianchou was nearly struck dumb. It felt as though he had entered a government office building from his previous life, despite the ancient-style architecture. The center of the first floor was an empty main hall, with many smaller halls branching off on both sides. Each small hall bore a signboard: Service Department, Defense Department, Mundane Affairs Department, Miscellaneous Affairs Department... The signs farther down the corridors on either side could not be read clearly, so who knew what other departments they indicated.

Yue Qianchou shook his head. If not for the antique architecture, he would truly have suspected that he had transmigrated back. Following Cheng Gengqing up to the top floor, they stopped outside what appeared to be the largest room.

From outside, Cheng Gengqing called, "Disciple Cheng Gengqing requests an audience with the Sect Master."

Yue Qianchou looked up at the plaque above. Sure enough, it bore the two characters: "Sect Master." He truly suspected that whoever had come up with all this might also have transmigrated here.

"Come in!" A dignified voice rang out from within.

This feeling was fucking familiar! Yue Qianchou's teeth ached at the sound as he muttered inwardly, What rank of official would this Sect Master count as? Provincial governor? Mayor? Or county magistrate? Cheng Gengqing tugged at him as he stood there spacing out...