Jade Clarity Celestial Light

The sounds of battle were intense, and the aftershocks of colliding energies carried far and wide, making the dead black trees rustle.

Li Su and Zhiwei exchanged a glance, both becoming more vigilant.

Li Su quietly extended his divine sense forward and saw three young cultivators in azure Daoist robes standing in a forest clearing ahead.

Holding magical swords, they had formed a simple Three Talents Sword Array and were desperately resisting the attack of a strange insect resembling a centipede, except it had wings and was covered entirely in metallic armor.

The monstrous insect was enormous and radiated a vicious aura. It possessed the strength of an Early Stage Celestial Immortal. Its mouthparts spewed poisonous mist and acid, while the beating of its wings produced a piercing noise that disturbed the mind.

The three azure-robed cultivators were all Earth Immortals. Relying on the intricacy of their sword array and the quality of their magical swords, they were barely holding on. Yet they were already struggling to defend themselves, surrounded by danger. Their Daoist robes were torn in several places, and they clearly would not last much longer.

Their Daoist aura was upright and peaceful, carrying a pure, clear energy much like the orthodox Daoist cultivators Li Su had encountered before.

"They are disciples of the Daoist school!" Zhiwei said softly, a hint of familiarity in her voice.

The Jade Rabbit Clan also followed a path close to nature, and they held considerable goodwill toward the orthodox Daoist traditions.

Li Su's gaze flickered.

Encountering Daoist disciples here might be... an opportunity? A chance to make contact with them, perhaps even join the Daoist school in the future?

But that Celestial Immortal insect was no easy opponent.

Saving them carried considerable risk. Not saving them would weigh on his conscience, and he might lose a rare opportunity.

Just as the sword array's radiance grew dimmer and dimmer, one young cultivator reacted a fraction too slowly and was grazed on the arm by the poisonous mist. His skin immediately festered. He screamed, his sword technique faltered, and the sword array instantly revealed a flaw! The insect shrieked and snapped its sharp mouthparts down at him!

At that critical moment!

Li Su moved!

Rather than attacking the insect directly, his bamboo body trembled, and the Minor Star Net Array he had secretly prepared activated at once, shrouding the battlefield!

Though it had been set up hastily and lacked much of its power, it was enough to momentarily disrupt the insect's senses and movements!

At the same time, he transmitted his voice to Zhiwei. "Use earth escape. Disrupt its footing!"

Zhiwei immediately understood and dove underground.

The insect was suddenly trapped in the array's illusion. Its movements stalled, and its attack missed.

It shrieked furiously and was about to struggle free of the formation when the ground beneath it suddenly collapsed and loosened. Countless stones and grains of sand coiled around it like living things. Though they could not truly trap it, they caused it to stagger again!

"Which fellow Daoist has come to aid us?!" The three Daoist disciples were both shocked and delighted. The slightly older cultivator at their head immediately shouted.

"Attack where its wings join its shell!" Li Su's voice entered their ears through divine sense. At the same time, a flicker of Soul-Devouring Dark Light silently shot toward the insect's compound eyes!

Though the three disciples did not know who their helper was, they acted at once upon hearing his words. Their three magical swords bloomed with clear light and pierced precisely toward the vulnerable points at the base of the insect's wings!

The insect had to resist the array's illusions and the disturbances below ground while also fending off magical swords aimed directly at its weaknesses. Its compound eyes had also been injured by the Soul-Devouring Dark Light. It immediately let out a pained shriek, its movements becoming increasingly chaotic.

Seizing the moment, Li Su unleashed the radiance of Star Evil Body Protection from his bamboo body and charged fiercely into the array like a massive black steel whip, lashing viciously at the insect's midsection!

Bang!

A dull impact rang out! The insect was sent rolling away, its shell cracking as foul-smelling green blood flowed out.

Having suffered such a heavy blow, the insect's ferocity flared. Yet it also sensed how troublesome its opponents were, especially the strange array and divine sense attack, which made it deeply uncomfortable.

It shrieked several times before suddenly beating its wings, whipping up a poisonous gale. Then it turned and darted deep into the forest, vanishing from sight.

Seeing the insect retreat, Li Su immediately withdrew the array. His bamboo body swayed faintly, and his aura fluctuated slightly.

That exchange had seemed smooth enough, but it had actually consumed no small amount of energy, especially since he had maintained the array, activated his divine abilities, and directly withstood an attack from a Celestial Immortal insect all at once.

Having narrowly escaped death, the three Daoist disciples all sighed in relief, their faces filled with lingering relief.

They hurriedly helped up their injured companion and applied medicine to detoxify him. Then they straightened their robes and respectfully bowed in Li Su's direction.

"Disciples Ming Chen, Ming Qing, and Ming Jing of the Jade Clarity Sect thank you, Senior, for saving our lives!"

Ming Chen, the slightly older disciple at their head, spoke respectfully. Although Li Su's aura was only at the middle Earth Immortal stage, the array and strength he had displayed earlier made them sincerely willing to address him as Senior. Their gazes toward Li Su were full of curiosity and gratitude. Clearly, they had never seen such an unusual great cultivator—a bamboo spirit.

The Jade Clarity Sect? Li Su's heart stirred. As expected, it was an orthodox Daoist sect. Judging from its name, it seemed to have some connection to Yuanshi Tianzun? Yuanshi Tianzun was also known as the Jade Clarity Yuanshi Tianzun.

"I was merely passing through. It was a small effort, so there is no need for such courtesy." Li Su replied through divine sense, his voice calm.

"To you, Senior, it may have been a small effort, but to us, it was a life-saving kindness!" Ming Chen remained respectful. "May we know your honored name, Senior?

Where is your immortal abode? When we return to the mountain, we will certainly report this to our elders and repay your kindness."

"My name is Mo Xing. I am merely a wandering cultivator from the wilderness." Li Su answered indifferently. "Why were you in this dangerous place?"

Ming Chen hurriedly replied, "In answer to Senior Mo Xing, the three of us martial brothers were sent out by our sect to gain experience and gather several spirit ores unique to this region.

Unexpectedly, we wandered into the territory of that Flying Centipede and were pursued all the way here... Had you not intervened, Senior, we would certainly have met with disaster today."

A look of shame appeared on his face.

At that moment, the injured Ming Jing suddenly pointed at Li Su and said excitedly to Ming Chen, "Senior Brother!

Look, clear light flickers around Senior's body, and his Dao aura is natural. It actually seems somewhat compatible with our Jade Clarity Celestial Light!"

Upon hearing this, Ming Chen carefully examined Li Su. Sure enough, he discovered that the starlight and clear radiance flowing across the ink-black bamboo body possessed unusual attributes, yet carried not the slightest trace of evil. Instead, they exuded an upright and peaceful quality.

They even faintly resonated with the Jade Clarity Celestial Light they cultivated! This was simply astonishing! A bamboo spirit actually possessed the bearing of an orthodox Daoist cultivator?

Li Su was slightly taken aback as well. Was it because he cultivated the power of the stars and had obtained a Daoist array inheritance such as the Minor Chiliad Array Analysis, or... did the Dao aura contained within the Bedrock Rune itself share an affinity with Jade Clarity Dao techniques?

Ming Chen became even more respectful. "Senior truly has an affinity with our Daoist school! May I ask where you are headed, Senior?

If it is along the way, would you permit us to travel with you for a while? One of our Jade Clarity Sect retreats is not far from here. If the elders of our sect learn that you saved us, Senior, they will surely wish to thank you in person."

After extending the invitation, Ming Chen seemed to feel that he had been too presumptuous and hurriedly added, "Of course, if you have other important matters to attend to, Senior, we would not dare insist.

It is simply that the road ahead remains unsafe. There is a place called Shadowed Marsh, filled with strange poisonous insects and illusory miasma. We have miasma-repelling talismans and a map bestowed by our sect, which may be of some help to you, Senior."

Li Su's thoughts raced. Traveling with disciples of the Jade Clarity Sect would undoubtedly allow him to cross the dangerous region ahead more safely. It would also let him make contact with the Daoist school, gather information about Kunlun Mountain, and perhaps... this might be his opportunity to join the Jade Clarity Sect!

He still needed to remain cautious, but such an opportunity was rare.

After pondering for a moment, he slowly said, "That will do. I was already planning to travel northwest, so I will accompany you all for a while."

The three Ming Chen disciples were overjoyed. "Thank you, Senior!"

Zhiwei also emerged from underground and stood obediently behind Li Su.

The three men were stunned again upon seeing Zhiwei. However, seeing that she was Li Su's companion, they did not dare ask further and remained courteous.

After a brief rest, the group set out together. With the miasma-repelling talismans and detailed map provided by the Jade Clarity Sect disciples, they indeed avoided many dangerous regions.

Along the way, Li Su occasionally spoke with Ming Chen, subtly inquiring about the Primordial World and the Jade Clarity Sect.

Ming Chen held this "life-saving benefactor" and "true cultivator of the Dao" in great respect, answering every question and sparing no details.

From Ming Chen, Li Su learned that although Fierce Beasts still ravaged the Primordial World, the lineages established by the major innate gods and demons had already risen. They occupied famous mountains and great rivers, enlightened living beings, and resisted the Fierce Beasts.

The Jade Clarity Sect had been founded on Kunlun Mountain by an unmatched great cultivator who called himself the Primordial Heavenly King. It was one of the leaders among the orthodox Daoist sects, renowned far and wide.

The retreat they had come from this time was merely an outlying forward post established by the Jade Clarity Sect.

Li Su grew increasingly excited. He had chosen the right direction! Kunlun Mountain, the Jade Clarity Sect, the Primordial Heavenly King—Yuanshi Tianzun!

At the same time, he gained a clearer understanding of the current distribution of powers in the Primordial World.

Several days later, after passing through a mist-shrouded gorge, the view before them suddenly opened up. In a valley with relatively abundant spiritual energy stood several ancient Daoist temples, faint auspicious light surrounding them in stark contrast to the desolation beyond.

At the mouth of the valley stood a stone monument inscribed with two ancient characters brimming with Dao aura: Jade Clarity.

They had arrived at the Jade Clarity Retreat.