Immortals in a Dream?

The wind picked up at the cliff's edge, and Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes.

"Five years of accumulation, and it's already this profound!"

Under his internal gaze, the Supreme Harmony Qi surged like a great river, the nascent form of his Destiny Talisman was already seven-tenths solidified, and the patterns of mountains and seas faintly appeared.

These five years of arduous cultivation in his dream body had saved him several years in his current life, and had also helped him overcome all the bottlenecks before solidifying his talisman.

"Whoosh—"

As the Sea and Mountain Remnant Scroll circulated, his body immediately emitted the sound of rivers surging, and a jade-like luster appeared on his skin.

"At this rate, I'll be able to digest all five years of insights within three days. By then, what will be fed back to my physical body in the current world will be more than just spiritual energy, but also a complete understanding of breaking through! However..."

Memories from the past five years surfaced—

He had gained fame in the Jade Capital for his strategic advice, even reaching the ears of the Immortal Emperor, which also made him a target for various forces. To avoid trouble, Princess Xiyao had settled him here on "Xuan Du Mountain" to cultivate and had also passed down the subsequent cultivation techniques of the Great Mountain Heavenly Art.

He looked up, and a bronze ancient palace flickered in the depths of the sea of clouds. The words "Xuan Du" were as sharp and powerful as a sword.

"Xuan Du Mountain, a True Immortal's dojo."

Legend had it that a True Immortal resided here, and ordinary people dared not cause trouble. However, Chen Xu had been here for several years and had never seen one.

Recalling his past life in the dream, Chen Qing suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.

"Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality, is all about achieving enlightenment and becoming an immortal, living freely and eternally! I struggled for survival in the real world, yet in my dreams, I glimpsed immortal destiny. This contrast… it truly lives up to being a dream, offering everything! I just don't know what an immortal truly looks like..."

As he was contemplating, he suddenly saw a beam of emerald-green sword light slicing through the air.

The sword light descended, revealing Xu Zhaoying's figure.

She wore a lake-green long dress, her jade belt swaying gently at her waist, but her face was frosty, and unconcealed anger flickered in her eyes.

"Hit another wall?" Chen Qing asked, but his gaze flickered to the azure sword in her hand.

This sword was named "Flowing Water." Its blade bore flowing water patterns, and the hilt had nine spiral patterns resembling a fox's tail.

According to fragmented memories, this sword was a specially made sword of a very high grade. It could also consume Spirit Marrow for aerial flight. As long as one mastered the sword-wielding techniques, even if Xu Zhaoying's cultivation level was not high, she could still fly with the sword.

"These hypocrites on Xuan Du Mountain! They dare to call themselves immortal disciples!" Xu Zhaoying snorted coldly and threw a jade slip at him. "As soon as I mention bloodline agitation, they either claim the formula is incomplete or the ingredients are hard to find!"

Chen Qing took the jade slip and scanned it with his divine sense. He discovered it was a fragmented Hundred Meridians Harmonizing Pill Recipe, which could regulate various disturbances in blood and qi meridians. By rights, it should be quite valuable, but it lacked the most crucial main ingredient.

"I treat... my Princess Xiyao treats them well, with constant offerings every year!" Xu Zhaoying gritted her teeth. "Now that they are needed to contribute, they push back like this! It's simply because they look down on the bloodlines of the Hundred Races and are intentionally discriminating!"

Chen Qing pondered this.

During his five years in the dream, Xu Zhaoying had been quite close to "Chen Xu." This time, they came to Xuan Du Mountain together, ostensibly to cultivate alongside each other, but in reality, to obtain a pill for the Princess to quell her Qingqiu bloodline agitation. However, it had been unsuccessful.

He examined the jade slip in his hand carefully, his brow furrowed.

The formulation method of this pill bore a seven-tenths similarity to the Ancient Pill Remnant Formula he had obtained earlier.

He looked at the jade slip and said, "The principle behind harmonizing the hundred meridians is similar to the ancient Five Elements Return to Origin method. However, when the Immortal Dynasty was first established, the functions of many spiritual herbs were not yet clear, and their efficacy was unknown. It may not be intentional concealment..."

Xu Zhaoying shook her head and interrupted him in a low voice, "Three days ago, the Princess's bloodline agitated again, almost revealing her Yao form. Some people in the court have already submitted memorials, saying she is not of our kind!"

Chen Qing was shocked.

No wonder Xu Zhaoying was so anxious today.

Then, he remembered the matter of "Heavenly Fox Xiyao" that Bai Shaoyou had mentioned.

Could it really come true?

"If there's no solution," Xu Zhaoying clenched her fists within her sleeves, "then if news of another loss of control over her bloodline spreads, those old fuddy-duddies will force the Princess to the Meridian Washing Pool!"

As soon as the words "Meridian Washing Pool" were uttered, fragmented memories surged within Chen Qing—that was a great weapon used by the Immortal Dynasty to deal with foreign races. Those who entered the pool would at best have their bloodlines crippled, and at worst, their souls would scatter!

But... she was an Immortal Dynasty Princess. Would she be dealt with just because of bloodline abnormalities?

Was this dream replaying history?

Or perhaps...

"Actually, there's no such thing. We won't be staying here for many more days." Xu Zhaoying suddenly changed the subject and took out a letter talisman from her sleeve. "This is a secret letter from the Princess."

Chen Qing took it and saw a line of delicate small characters—

"Minister Chen's advice benefited the state. The Holy Emperor has summoned you. You are to proceed to the capital in three days to receive your reward. Do not delay."

Faint ink smudges could be seen between the lines, as if the writer's emotions were turbulent while writing.

"The resettlement plan isn't going smoothly?" Chen Qing asked as he put away the letter. His dream body had been cultivating peacefully for the past few years and knew little about external affairs.

Xu Zhaoying sighed, "It's more than just not smooth! Those criminals have rioted three times. Someone in the court has been secretly funding weapons. If the Princess hadn't personally overseen it, joining forces with the Lu Clan, Zhao Clan, and a few other families, they would have probably ruined it by now!"

As she spoke, a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes as she looked at Chen Qing. "However, your strategy of divide and conquer is indeed brilliant. After three years of implementation, thirty percent of the criminals have voluntarily assimilated. Now, with five years passed and the deadline approaching, the first batch of criminal descendants to be de-registered are almost indistinguishable from ordinary citizens of the Immortal Dynasty!"

She paused and smiled, "I heard that many noble families and important figures in the Immortal Dynasty are looking for you, wanting to recruit or visit you. After you leave the mountain, your residence will likely be bustling with visitors."

Ding-dong-ding—

As they spoke, a bell suddenly rang in the distance, nine times in succession, shaking the sea of clouds.

"The annual sermon is today!" Xu Zhaoying looked towards the ancient palace. "It's said that the preacher this time is the second disciple of the Xuan Du Mountain Master, Venerable Taiyan! People often say immortals are hard to meet, but such a direct disciple of an immortal is also rarely seen. If I could receive his guidance, the benefits would be endless."

She glanced at Chen Qing and reminded him, "Since we're leaving anyway, don't just shut yourself away for cultivation this time. Come with me to listen. Perhaps you can gain some inspiration and find a way to condense your Destiny Talisman."

She knew her Fellow Daoist had strict requirements for herself. Five years ago, she had condensed the prototype of a Destiny Talisman, but in order to make it as perfect as possible, she had been continuously settling and accumulating.

Chen Qing nodded. Previously, his true self had not been present, and this body should have acted according to the most basic cognition, cultivating diligently. Now that he had returned from a dream, how could he miss the lecture by an immortal's disciple?

His heart warmed slightly. One should know that true immortals had long since vanished from the mortal world!

However, as he stepped onto the Flowing Water sword with Xu Zhaoying, catching the faint scent from her body, what he thought about was how every time he entered this dream, he encountered some kind of incident—the Mysterious Prison breaking free, Feng offering advice, and this time, it was Xuan Du lecturing, with a Princess listening!

Could it be that I am being made to experience the turning points of "Chen Xu's" life?

Whoosh—

The wind howled!

The two of them rode their swords, passing through the sea of clouds, and arrived at a suspended mountain peak.

This peak was entirely made of blue jade, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist. The platform at the summit was as flat as a mirror, with a white jade altar in the center. Dozens of people were already seated below the altar, each with an extraordinary bearing—some were young masters from noble families in fine clothes, while others were old cultivators with deep auras.

Chen Qing couldn't help but praise, "What a magnificent immortal scene!"

Xu Zhaoying smiled, "Xuan Du Mountain is indeed a paradise on earth, but it cannot compare to the immortal energy of a few floating mountains. Take those like Rainbow Light, Void Abyss, and Golden Crow mountains; they can traverse continents and roam the four seas, which are true immortal feats. Calculating the time, some of them are currently in the Central Spirit Continent. I'll take you to see them in a while."

Void Abyss Mountain?!

Chen Qing's heart tightened. Wasn't this the divine mountain mentioned by the gatekeeper of Lesser Yingzhou, the one discovered by Sea Abyss Temple?

The floating divine mountain found by Sea Abyss Temple, could it be the Void Abyss Mountain that Xu Zhaoying spoke of? This... this spans two continents, how many years? However, it is a dream after all, perhaps there are similarities.

But in his heart, doubts inevitably arose.

Is it really just a dream?

Just as he was thinking.

"Please be seated here, both of you. Do not speak loudly and disturb the others."

A young boy in green saw the two of them and walked over, casually pointing to a stone stool on the outermost edge. His attitude was perfunctory. Only when he saw the jade token on Xu Zhaoying's waist did he become slightly more respectful, "So you are from Princess Xiyao's manor."

Chen Qing noticed that the brocade cushions in the inner circle had already been occupied by several cultivators with profound auras. The boy was extremely attentive to them, constantly offering them spiritual tea and immortal fruits.

"The rules of Xuan Du Mountain are that those with higher cultivation and higher status sit in the inner circle," the boy said casually, seeing Chen Qing's gaze. "It's normal for a Fellow Daoist to not know, as you are new here. Please be seated."

Xu Zhaoying let out a cold snort and was about to speak when she was interrupted by a clear greeting—

"Is this Fellow Daoist Chen Xu?"

A scholar in a green robe strode over, his face refined and elegant, with a small bronze seal hanging from his waist.

"It is indeed," Chen Qing cupped his hands.

The scholar's eyes lit up, "It really is you! I've heard for a long time that you were in Xuan Du Mountain. I didn't expect that by coming here on a whim to listen to Xuan Du's lecture, I would actually run into you! That strategy of 'dividing power and dispersing influence'—how did you come up with it?" He clapped his hands in admiration, "One strategy dispelled a hundred thousand enemies, it's truly brilliant!"

Before his voice faded, a commotion arose from the inner circle.

"Chen Xu? The Chen Xu who offered the strategy to pacify the people?"

A young master in brocade robes floated over and solemnly cupped his hands, "I am Qiu Fang of the Qiu Clan. My father often praises Brother Chen's strategies as exquisitely brilliant!"

This caused a stir like poking a hornet's nest. In an instant, disciples from the Zhao Clan and Li Clan flocked over, surrounding the outer stone stools so tightly that not a drop of water could leak through.

The boy saw these noble family scions, who usually carried themselves with such arrogance, scrambling to bow to a cultivator sitting on the outer edge. The tea tray in his hand almost fell.

Xu Zhaoying smiled slightly and said softly, "Your reputation for 'one strategy to pacify the people' is even more resounding than I imagined." She then frowned, "Unfortunately, such worldly affairs tarnish the immortal atmosphere of this place."

Chen Qing, however, chuckled at her words, recalling the cultivation world in the mortal world outside the dream.

Xu Zhaoying chided, "What are you laughing at?"

Chen Qing pointed to the distant mountain peak and said, "Look at the clouds on that mountain peak. When they gather, they form a scene; when they disperse, they become qi. Immortal destiny and human relationships are nothing more than the interplay of gathering and dispersing."

Xu Zhaoying was stunned. She savored his words and looked at Chen Qing again, her gaze changing subtly.

"Dong—"

The sound of a bell rang out again, scattering the sea of clouds. Everyone instantly returned to their seats with solemn expressions.

A golden rainbow pierced through the sky, and a Daoist in white robes stood on the altar. This person had a lean face, his eyes sharp as lightning, and his aura was like a deep pool or a towering mountain, pressing down on all the cultivators present, making them hold their breath and focus their minds.

"Today, we will be discussing the Heaven and Earth as a Furnace Chapter."

His voice, like the clashing of gold and jade, echoed across the mountaintop.