Misentered Kunlun Branch Courtyard

But the Great Desolation Land was so vast as to be nearly boundless, its space expanding with every passing moment.

So even knowing it lay in the same direction, finding the exact location was like fishing for a needle in the sea.

Thus, Haotian could only repeatedly activate the Purple Firmament Token, using its ability to traverse chaos and the Primordial World to continuously cross the void and shorten the journey.

After traveling about for more than ten thousand years...

Haotian finally found an Immortal Mountain blessed with auspicious terrain.

The mountain towered into the heavens. Clouds and mist curled around its base, immortal aura swirled above its slopes, its roots were planted in the Great Desolation Land, and its peak seemed poised to pierce straight through the Ninth Heaven.

The spiritual energy within the mountain was incomparably dense, condensing into tangible Spirit Mist that flowed without cease. At a glance, one could tell it was an excellent place for cultivation and comprehending the Dao.

Haotian descended from the clouds and landed atop the Mountain Peak.

Just as he was about to spread out his divine sense and investigate, he suddenly sensed a vast Aura surging forth from his side.

Before he could react, a white figure had already appeared thirty meters away.

Haotian's heart tightened, and he was about to activate the Purple Firmament Token.

"Do not be alarmed, Daoist. I bear no ill will." The white figure revealed himself to be a young Cultivator clad in a moon-white Daoist robe.

Seeing Haotian's guarded expression, he immediately cupped his hands in salute and voluntarily retreated several li.

Seeing this, Haotian temporarily held off on activating the token and stared intently at him.

The young man in white said warmly, "My name is Bai Ze, and I am the Mountain Lord of this mountain."

"Earlier, I sensed that Daoist's aura was extraordinary, so I appeared to take a look."

"I did not expect to disturb Daoist. I hope you will forgive me."

Bai Ze?

Hearing the newcomer introduce himself, Haotian's heart stirred.

Then, hearing him say he was the Mountain Lord here, Haotian grew even more wary.

After pondering for a moment, Haotian cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is this mountain called?"

Bai Ze returned the salute. "This mountain was originally a Kunlun Branch. I may presumptuously call it the Kunlun Branch Residence."

"Since it lies beside the East Sea, it is also known as 'Beside the East Sea.'"

Upon hearing that this was not Zhongnan Mountain, Haotian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though his expression remained unchanged. "So it is Fellow Daoist Bai Ze."

"My name is Haotian. I had intended to visit a friend at Zhongnan Mountain, but I unexpectedly strayed into Fellow Daoist's place of secluded cultivation. I hope you will pardon my offense."

Bai Ze raised his brows slightly, surprise appearing on his face. "Strayed in?"

"Since Daoist has already attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, you should be able to sense the Dao markers of heaven and earth. How could you lose your direction?"

Haotian looked embarrassed. "To be honest, Fellow Daoist, I was not a living being born within this Primordial World, so I possess none of the inherited memories of the Primordial World."

"Thus, though I was fortunate enough to cultivate to the Golden Immortal realm, it is difficult for me to connect with the Dao laws of the Primordial World. That is why I lost my way."

"I see." Bai Ze came to a realization.

After pondering for a moment, he said, "Since that is the case... if Daoist does not mind, I still have several cultivation inheritances within my Cave Mansion. I would be willing to give them to Daoist for your study."

Haotian was stunned upon hearing this and asked doubtfully, "The Myriad Races of the Great Desolation Land all regard cultivation inheritances as secrets never to be passed on."

"Fellow Daoist and I are strangers to one another. Why would Fellow Daoist treat me with such generosity?"

Bai Ze laughed heartily and answered frankly, "To be honest, Daoist, I was born able to comprehend Heavenly Secrets and sense Fortune and Misfortune."

"From the first moment I saw Daoist, I felt that your Fate was noble and that your future was beyond measure."

"Giving you these scriptures is merely to forge a good bond."

Hearing Bai Ze say this, Haotian was secretly startled.

As expected of an Innate Auspicious Beast, the future strategist of the Demon Race—his spiritual awareness was truly sharp.

Logically speaking, with the Purple Firmament Token in his possession, so long as he did not reveal it himself, no one beneath a Saint should have been able to see through his origins.

Yet Bai Ze had seen at a glance that he was extraordinary.

Haotian could sense that although Bai Ze's cultivation surpassed his own, it had not reached the point of utterly crushing him.

Such perceptiveness was truly rare.

"How could Haotian dare refuse Fellow Daoist's kindness?" With a turn of his thoughts, he flipped his hand and took out a jade box containing Big Red Robe tea leaves.

"As it happens, I recently came upon some Spirit Tea. I would like to share it with Fellow Daoist, discuss the Dao, and verify our insights against one another. What do you think?"

Bai Ze's eyes lit up. "Wonderful! Please follow me, Daoist."

With that, he turned and led the way.

After a brief consideration, Haotian followed close behind.

The Two People descended one after the other into the depths of the mountainside, arriving before a Cave Mansion concealed within Spirit Mist.

The entrance was carved from a single piece of strange warm jade, with a brilliant golden plaque hanging above it.

The three characters—Jade Machine Cave—were engraved upon the plaque in Dao Inscription...

Haotian focused his gaze on them, unable to suppress his admiration.

The three characters appeared simple, yet every stroke was woven from countless laws, secretly conforming to the ultimate truths of heaven and earth and encompassing the mysteries of all things.

Should an ordinary Golden Immortal harbor ill intent and rashly touch them, they would be suppressed by the Dao resonance within in an instant.

"Fine characters, fine Dao Method, fine cave mansion!" Haotian praised sincerely.

Bai Ze smiled faintly and flicked his sleeve. The cave doors opened soundlessly. "Daoist, please."

There was another world within the cave.

Spirit springs murmured, exotic flowers bloomed, and as Dao resonance flowed, it formed a world of its own.

Haotian followed Bai Ze to the center of the cave mansion.

The two sat facing one another before a Stone Table naturally carved from Jade Marrow.

The Stone Table was lustrous throughout, with faint spiritual light flowing across it. It was clearly no ordinary item.

A White Jade Teaset sat upon it. Cloud patterns faintly emerged on the teapot, while the cups were as thin as cicada wings.

Haotian examined it closely and could not help sighing. "Fellow Daoist, this teaset is truly extraordinary. It seems to contain the flowing Dao resonance of a spirit treasure."

Bai Ze smiled calmly at those words. "Daoist, your eye is indeed sharp."

"This item does have some history. Back when I traveled the East Sea, the East Sea Dragon Clan presented it to me."

"The East Sea Dragon Clan?" Haotian's gaze flickered. "I have long heard that the Dragon Clan commands the wealth of the Four Seas and possesses deep foundations. Seeing this today, the rumors are indeed true."

"Even an ordinary item for drinking tea contains such spiritual charm."

Yet at those words, a trace of complicated emotion crossed Bai Ze's face. "Daoist, you know only one side of the matter, not the other."

"The Dragon Clan of old was indeed resplendent beyond measure, but now..." He let out a soft sigh. "It has been declining with every passing day."

Seeing his expression, Haotian knew there was more to the story and quietly waited for him to continue.

A look of reminiscence appeared in Bai Ze's eyes as he slowly said, "When I was traveling through the East Sea, I happened upon three Rogue Cultivators besieging a young girl."

"That girl was still very young, and her cultivation was weak. She was no match for them at all."

"Pity stirred in my heart, so I drove those villains away."

"Only afterward did I learn that the girl was the youngest daughter of the East Sea Dragon Clan's patriarch."

"To express their gratitude, the Dragon Clan repeatedly invited me to choose any one treasure from their treasury."

"I could not refuse, so I followed their guards there."

At this point, Bai Ze shook his head with a bitter smile. "Only after entering the treasury did I learn of the Dragon Clan's present circumstances."

"The vast treasury was empty and desolate. Most of what was displayed were ordinary magical artifacts, while the few Innate Spirit Treasures that remained were damaged and incomplete, their spiritual light dim."

"That Dragon Clan guard explained that after the great war of antiquity, the Dragon Clan Elite had all perished, while the few remaining clan elders had fallen Severely Injured into slumber."

"Thus, over these years, every faction had taken advantage of their weakness to invade and plunder them without end. The foundations the Dragon Clan had accumulated over hundreds of millions of years had long since been reduced to less than one-tenth."

"My heart felt heavy at the sight. I could not bear to take another precious treasure, so I merely chose this teaset, which still retained a few traces of spiritual charm, and then took my leave."