Exile to Yu Shan, Visit to Zhenyuanzi

Su Mu carefully picked up a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and examined its faintly glowing surface.

He gave it a gentle sniff and caught a faint fragrance. Then, without hesitation, he put the precious pill into his mouth.

As soon as it entered his mouth, the pill turned into a cool medicinal liquid that quickly slid down his throat.

The liquid spread through his body, bringing a wonderful sensation. Su Mu could feel his body absorbing its powerful medicinal energy, every cell joyfully throbbing.

As time passed, the effects gradually took hold, and Su Mu's cultivation began to grow at an astonishing rate.

He had already been at the peak of the Mid Golden Immortal of the Origin realm, but in an instant, he broke through to the Late Golden Immortal of the Origin realm!

Excitement and joy welled up in Su Mu's heart. He hadn't expected the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir to be so potent, letting him cross an entire Minor Realm in one go.

But he also understood that this wouldn't happen every time. The first time anyone consumed something, its effects were strongest; later doses might not be nearly as effective.

So he needed to cherish every opportunity to increase his strength.

With a wave of his hand, Su Mu put away the remaining eight Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs. He knew they were rare treasures and needed to be stored carefully.

He decided to put them in the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd. It was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, perfectly capable of holding these precious pills.

As Su Mu opened the stopper of the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd, he suddenly remembered that the Remnant Soul of Ancestor Hong Yun was still inside.

He hesitated, but soon came up with a solution.

"I can use my Immortal Power to nourish the Remnant Soul of Ancestor Hong Yun for now. That will not only protect him, but also help him recover some strength."

"Once I finish refining the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs, I'll give the Remnant Soul of Ancestor Hong Yun to Great Immortal Zhenyuan. After all, he and Ancestor Hong Yun shared a deep friendship. The Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd can then continue to store the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs and preserve their medicinal properties."

With that, Su Mu settled on a clear plan. He carefully channeled his Immortal Power, gently sending it into the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Red Gourd in the hope of bringing a little warmth and vitality to the Remnant Soul of Ancestor Hong Yun.

At the same time, he looked forward to successfully finishing the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs, laying a solid foundation for his future cultivation.

Su Mu had gathered many natural treasures from the Chaos Three Immortal Islands and had no shortage of resources, so he began refining Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs again.

Meanwhile, in the Human Tribe, Shun had governed the Human Race for five hundred years. Apart from the floods, he had managed everything else very well.

Shun still had Gun handle the floods, while he took care of the Human Race's other affairs.

Gun had made great contributions to flood control, and his prestige had continued to rise, nearly surpassing Shun's.

Maitreya had approached Shun many times, but Shun paid it no mind. As long as someone could contribute to the development of the Human Race, that was enough.

However, Maitreya worried that Gun's prestige might surpass Shun's and cost Shun his position as emperor.

So, when a flood washed away a section of dike, Maitreya issued an order without authorization and exiled Gun to Yu Shan.

Maitreya found Gun and said, "Gun, your method of flood control has serious flaws, and Co-Lord Shun is very dissatisfied. Co-Lord Shun has decided to exile you to Yu Shan. Set out at once."

Gun knew that his method of controlling the floods did have some problems, but he didn't think they were serious enough to warrant exile.

So he replied, "Immortal Maitreya, my method may still need improvement, but there's room to refine it. Please convey to the Co-Lord that I'm willing to keep searching for a solution to the floods."

But Maitreya answered without mercy, "Gun, don't say another word. The Co-Lord has made up his mind."

Gun felt helpless and had no choice but to take his wife to Yu Shan.

After Gun had lived at Yu Shan for some time, his wife, You Shen Shi, became pregnant.

Time passed, and several centuries slipped by in the blink of an eye. Throughout those long years, Su Mu had devoted himself to alchemy. Through tireless effort, he had successfully refined nearly a hundred precious Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs.

The Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs brimmed with Spiritual Energy. Each one contained boundless vitality and vigor.

One day, Su Mu took several Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs out of the furnace and carefully placed the rest in a small formation to keep them safe.

Then he left his cave to take care of some business.

As soon as Su Mu stepped outside, he saw Bei Xuan coming out of his own cave as well. Curious, he asked, "Junior Brother, where are you going?"

Bei Xuan smiled and answered, "Senior Disciple Brother, I'm going to teach Yu."

At that, Su Mu's heart stirred. He calculated with his fingers, then said, "Yu is about to be born, isn't he?"

Bei Xuan nodded with a smile. "That's right, Senior Disciple Brother. Yu is due soon, so I have to make preparations in advance."

Hearing this, Su Mu took a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and a Yellow Middle Plum from his robes, then held them out to Bei Xuan. "Junior Brother, take these."

Bei Xuan accepted the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir and the Yellow Middle Plum. As he examined the golden pill in his hand, delight appeared on his face. "Senior Disciple Brother, this is a Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir. You really succeeded in refining it!"

Without hesitation, Bei Xuan swallowed the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir. In an instant, his cultivation broke through an entire realm, advancing to the mid-stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Feeling the surging power within him, Bei Xuan was thrilled. Smiling broadly, he said to Su Mu, "Senior Disciple Brother, this Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir is incredible! You must have plenty more. Give me another one to try!"

Su Mu smiled wryly, took out another Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, and handed it to Bei Xuan.

He also reminded him, "Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs are wonderful, but you can't just swallow them like candy. And if you keep taking them, they may not be as effective as this time."

After Bei Xuan swallowed it, the effects were indeed much less pronounced. He wasn't disappointed, though, and said, "That's all right. I'll make sure to cultivate properly too. Senior Disciple Brother, I'll be off."

"All right." After Bei Xuan left, Su Mu first went to the Human Ancestral Land.

In the Human Ancestor Hall, Sui Ren Shi, You Chao Shi, and Zi Yi Shi were practicing the formation they and the Three Sovereigns had devised, the part of the formation controlled by the three of them. When they saw Su Mu enter, they looked up.

Zi Yi Shi stood up and said with a smile, "Su Mu, what brings you here? Weren't you in seclusion?"

"That's right, Elder Brother, Elder Sister. I went into seclusion to refine pills. Once I succeeded, I came to find you."

"Alchemy?" Sui Ren Shi said. "Su Mu, you know how to refine pills now?"

"That's right. Look." As he spoke, Su Mu took out three Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs and three Yellow Middle Plums and gave them to the three of them.

"These are for us? You're giving us something so precious?" You Chao Shi exclaimed in shock.

Zi Yi Shi, however, accepted the pills and said, "Su Mu, if he's giving them to us, take them."

"That's right. As soon as I succeeded in refining them, you three were the first ones I came to see," Su Mu said.

Hearing this, Sui Ren Shi, You Chao Shi, and Zi Yi Shi couldn't help feeling deeply moved.

They knew how precious the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs and Yellow Middle Plums were, and they understood the deep affection Su Mu had put into this gift.

So they accepted the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs and Yellow Middle Plums without hesitation and consumed them on the spot.

As the pills entered their stomachs, the medicinal power of the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs and Yellow Middle Plums quickly spread through their bodies, flowing through their meridians like a clear spring.

They felt their cultivation rising at an astonishing speed. The bottlenecks that had held them back suddenly shattered.

In just a short while, all three had broken through to the early stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

Delight showed on their faces, and their eyes gleamed with excitement.

They had thought their cultivation could advance no further, but now they had unexpectedly broken through their bottlenecks. They were thrilled.

By then, Su Mu had chosen to leave and headed straight for Longevity Mountain.

Longevity Mountain was a mysterious place, rich in Spiritual Energy and home to countless celestial birds and rare beasts.

It was a sacred site for immortal cultivation, and the destination of Su Mu's journey.

Longevity Mountain.

As soon as Su Mu entered the territory of Longevity Mountain, Zhenyuanzi, who was cultivating in seclusion inside Wuzhuang Temple, sensed his arrival.

He opened his eyes and smiled faintly, murmuring, "He's finally here."

Then he summoned two young attendants and ordered them to go welcome their guest.

"Qing Feng, Ming Yue, we have an honored guest today. Go and welcome him," Zhenyuanzi said.

Qing Feng answered respectfully, "Yes, Master."

Ming Yue, however, asked curiously, "Master, who is the honored guest?"

Zhenyuanzi smiled faintly and replied, "The Human Martial Ancestor."

At the name, Qing Feng and Ming Yue both looked awestruck.

They knew how renowned and respected the Human Martial Ancestor was in the Primordial Era, and they hurriedly answered in unison, "Yes, we'll go welcome him right away." Then they hurried off toward the mountain gate to receive Su Mu.

Su Mu arrived at the entrance to Wuzhuang Temple and stood quietly, gazing at the couplet on the gate.

The upper line read, "Eternal Life Divine Mansion"; the lower line read, "Daoist of Same Longevity as Heaven"; and the horizontal inscription read, "Heaven and Earth Same Longevity."

Every character radiated a mysterious, ancient aura, as if telling the story of the temple's history and legacy.

Before long, he saw two figures flying swiftly down from the mountain and landing in front of him.

"Greetings, Human Martial Ancestor!" Qing Feng and Ming Yue bowed, their manner extremely respectful.

"There's no need for such formalities." Su Mu waved a hand and looked over the two of them. "Is Zhenyuanzi here?"

As he spoke, Su Mu took out two Yellow Middle Plums and gave them to the pair.

"Thank you, Human Martial Ancestor. Our master is waiting inside the temple," they replied happily. "Please come with us."

Su Mu nodded and followed Qing Feng and Ming Yue into Wuzhuang Temple.

Along the way, he observed the surroundings and secretly marveled. Immortal aura curled through Wuzhuang Temple, and exotic flowers and plants could be seen everywhere. Clearly, it was an excellent place for cultivation.

Before long, they arrived in front of a grand hall. Qing Feng and Ming Yue stopped and bowed. "Human Martial Ancestor, please come in. Our master is inside."

Su Mu strode steadily into the grand hall. Inside, Zhenyuanzi was seated cross-legged on a cushion. When he saw Su Mu enter, he rose with a smile to greet him.

Su Mu was no longer the minor cultivator he had once been. He was now the Human Race's Martial Ancestor, and a powerful aura radiated from him, inspiring awe.

Seeing Zhenyuanzi, Su Mu hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting. "Greetings, Great Immortal Zhenyuan."

Zhenyuanzi smiled and nodded. "Martial Ancestor, please, come in." Then he said to the two young attendants, "Qing Feng, Ming Yue, go fetch a Ginseng Fruit for our guest."

"Yes," they replied, then turned and left to get the Ginseng Fruit.

After they had gone, Zhenyuanzi looked at Su Mu and asked, "May I ask what brings the Martial Ancestor to see me?"

Su Mu smiled faintly. "I happened upon something and wanted to give it to you, Great Immortal."

Zhenyuanzi replied calmly, "What is it?" At his level of cultivation, ordinary things could hardly stir his heart.

But when Su Mu brought out the item, Zhenyuanzi stood up in shock.

His eyes were filled with disbelief and astonishment, as if he had just seen the world's most precious treasure.

He stared intently at the item in Su Mu's hand, his eyes shining with excitement.