The Bright Light Sect Saintess! It's Hard to Ask for Favors

The moment the calm voice entered his mind, Chen Dengming keenly sensed that many illusory shadows seemed to have appeared in the surrounding air once again.

It was as if, in an instant, many pairs of eyes had suddenly been fixed on him.

It was as if countless mouths, along with a jumble of thoughts, were floating and exchanging ideas in the air.

It gives one the illusion of being in a surging crowd, with everyone staring at and scrutinizing them.

Chen Dengming calmed himself down, and this almost maddening illusion vanished in an instant along with countless afterimages.

He couldn't figure out whether the other party was deliberately creating a fuss or if his telepathic abilities were too sensitive.

Although he didn't know why the other party had guessed his intentions so easily, he remained humble, bowed, and replied, "Senior, you are very perceptive."

However, the main reason I came here this time is because I heard my Third Martial Uncle Su Yan Yan, instruct me to visit the Bright Light Sect 'Bright Light Sect outpost and fellow cultivators as soon as I arrived in City of All Immortals.

Martial Aunt Su said, "Our clan's first ancestor and the Bright Light Sect's first ancestor were bosom friends. As juniors who have just arrived, we must not be impolite!"

After speaking, Chen Dengming took out three ancient spirit medicine, each several hundred years old, which he had prepared and carefully packaged beforehand, as a gift.

"Not bad. You've put your heart into it. Your work ethic is no less impressive than that of your ancestor."

Chen Dengming was startled upon hearing this.

This senior dared to directly comment on the First Ancestor, so he must be someone of the same generation and realm. Could it be...?

Before he could finish bowing and hugging her leg, a long-haired woman in a white Daoist robe gracefully stepped out from the doorway ahead.

After stepping down the steps and standing still, she bowed to Chen Dengming, smiled charmingly, and parted her pearly white teeth to extend an invitation.

"Longevity Dao Child, my sect's first ancestor instructed me to invite you into the courtyard for tea and discussion, to fulfill my duty as host. Later, I will accompany you to the Affairs Hall to handle some matters. What do you say?"

Chen Dengming was surprised, realizing that the person he had just spoken with was indeed the first Mingguang Shangren of the Bright Light Sect, Master Mingguang.

That's Spirit Transformation cultivator! It's truly unexpected and I'm flattered.

"Thank you for the invitation, fellow Daoist. I, Chen, will gladly accept!"

He smiled and bowed, then stepped forward to present a gift, taking the opportunity to get a closer look at the woman opposite him, who was dressed in a Daoist robe and possessed a unique charm.

The other person had long, glossy black hair that hung down like clouds, paired with a simple Daoist robe, exuding a special attraction. Their appearance was also excellent, with a classic oval face and a pair of bright, clear eyes that could make one forget all worries upon seeing them.

"Your Highness Daozi, you may simply call me Bai Zhi."

Bai Zhi smiled faintly, bowed slightly, and then raised her bright and beautiful face. Her pair of bright eyes looked up at Chen Dengming with a humble posture, and she said softly as if she were obediently, "Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Even though Chen Dengming was in the Heavenly Heart Realm, he couldn't help but feel a slight ripple in his heart.

"Dao, fellow Daoist, be careful, beware of fox spirits!"

The Little Array Spirit on his chest suddenly conveyed a subtle sense of wariness.

Chen Dengming entered the courtyard with Bai Zhi, a smile on his face, but inwardly he was strangely wary.

"This woman possesses a powerful, infectious charisma. She doesn't seem to harbor any hostility, but this intense charisma makes people let down their guard and defensiveness upon first meeting, opening their hearts to her and talking about anything."

Considering that the Bright Light Sect was clearly Incense Dao with a lineage of Immortal Way and focused on developing its followers, Chen Dengming secretly marveled at its power.

This Bai Zhi was able to establish a direct connection with Mingguang Shangren, so she probably held some status within the Bright Light Sect. He secretly reinforced his defenses with the Human Immortal Way Power deep within his heart.

Chen Dengming became wary, unaware that Bai Zhi, a female cultivator from the Bright Light Sect, was also secretly surprised.

She had keenly sensed that although Chen Dengming smiled politely and seemed unchanged, he was actually deliberately distancing himself from her.

Though we appear to be very close, our hearts seem to be worlds apart.

This was the first time someone had given her this strange feeling of Proximity to Heaven's End.

"Could this be the Heavenly Heart Realm that the First Ancestor mentioned? It is indeed powerful."

Although she felt strange, Bai Zhi was not intimidated, as she had not deliberately used any tricks.

As the Bright Light Sect Saintess, she possessed Immortal Way lineage and was blessed by the power of numerous Incense and Faith. Every move she made and every word she uttered naturally exuded a strong affinity and attraction, making people involuntarily drawn to her.

After a few cups of tea.

With a warm smile on his face, Chen Dengming and Bai Zhi left the courtyard and headed straight for the Affairs Hall, surrounded by a group of devout disciples of the Bright Light Sect.

They sat for a short while at the Bright Light Sect's residence, really just drinking tea and catching up with each other.

Inside the outpost, Chen Dengming did not see the Nascent Spirit Transformation senior, Mingguang Shangren, with whom he had previously communicated. There were only about ten other disciples and stewards active in the outpost, and they were all taciturn.

The gaze directed at Bai Zhi was devout and fervent, and even the way the eyes looked at Chen Dengming carried a strange quality.

In this atmosphere, Chen Dengming felt as if he were sitting on a rugby ball, and he really couldn't sit still.

"Are all the disciples of the Bright Light Sect this... evil? They don't seem like disciples anymore, more like... ahem, PUAs!"

Chen Dengming flew in mid-air and glanced at Bai Zhi beside him.

The other person turned their delicate and beautiful profile, revealing a gentle and sweet smile.

Chen Dengming could only respond with a smile, but inwardly he felt a chill.

Among a group of somewhat abnormal people, if there is suddenly one person who is exceptionally normal, and even abnormally so, it is enough to show that this person is not as harmless as they appear on the surface. At least, he couldn't see through Bai Zhi's cultivation level at all; the other party seemed to have used some powerful concealment Technique Method.

However, considering that this is also part of the cultural atmosphere of another sect, much like the 'humble' characteristics of the Longevity Sect cultivators, it is understandable.

As long as the other party has no intention of harming him, he should continue to get along as usual, without needing to praise one and belittle the other.

Thinking about this, Chen Dengming felt much calmer.

At this moment, Bai Zhi turned her head and said, "Your Highness Daozi, the Affairs Hall is just ahead. If you need to report matters concerning the Blessed Land, I suggest you seek out Elder Wang Pingying within the hall."

Chen Dengming stopped and looked at a magnificent building in front of him, recalling the information he had heard from the patrolling disciples outside the city.

He nodded and said, "I've also heard that the best course of action is to approach Elder Wang Pingying about this matter."

However, it is said that this elder rarely receives those who come to handle matters in person.

Bai Zhi smiled calmly, "His Your Highness Daozi a noble position; perhaps Elder Wang will grant him an audience."

Chen Dengming smiled noncommittally and led him into the Hall of Affairs.

Since the other party didn't speak, he didn't feel comfortable speaking either, after all, they had only known each other for a short time.

His original intention was to visit and befriend the high-ranking members of the Bright Light Sect, and then, through their connections, arrange a meeting with Elder Wang, offer gifts, and curry favor, so that the matter could be handled discreetly and properly.

But once they arrived at the Bright Light Sect's outpost, they discovered that it wasn't like that at all.

Apart from Bai Zhi, there wasn't a single normal person among them, and the ones with higher cultivation were only at the Foundation Establishment Realm. Clearly, they weren't qualified to arrange a meeting with the elders of the Hall of Trouble.

As for Bai Zhi

"Your Highness, Saintess Mingguang!"

The two had just entered the Hall of Affairs when several cultivators inside saw Bai Zhi and immediately bowed respectfully. Their eyes were fixed on her beautiful face, their expressions full of admiration and goodwill. As for Chen Dengming, he was simply treated as a follower.

Clearly, Bai Zhi's strong affinity makes it a sought-after commodity wherever it goes.

"The Saintess of Bright Light?!"

Chen Dengming's thoughts were interrupted, and he looked at Bai Zhi in surprise.

The other party is actually the Saintess of the Bright Light Sect?

Isn't this equivalent to Dao Child, and a successor of the Bright Light Sect's lineage?

Although he had long suspected that Bai Zhi was no ordinary person, she had been too polite and humble throughout the journey, which made him subconsciously overlook her identity as Dao Child Saintess.

Bai Zhi smiled sweetly at the cultivators on their mission, her pearly teeth slightly parted, and said, "This humble servant wishes to see Elder Wang Pingying. I would be grateful if any of you could help me inform him."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators were all excited, looking as if it were a great honor to do something for the beauty, and they all rushed to do it themselves.

Seeing this, Chen Dengming secretly marveled at the scene, recalling that he himself had also been shaken earlier. If he hadn't possessed exceptional State of Mind, he probably would have made a fool of himself on the spot.

However, Bai Zhi's initiative to invite Elder Wang was both appreciated and unexpected. He immediately bowed sincerely in thanks and said with embarrassment.

"I was unaware that Fellow Daoist Bai was actually the Bright Light Sect Saintess of the Mingguang Sect. It was my fault for being so rude."

Bai Zhi shook her head and smiled slightly, "It was my fault for not introducing myself properly; it was my rudeness."

Chen Dengming exchanged a few more polite words, but seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the situation.

This was the first time he had ever met such a low-key and humble Saintess. In fact, her humble posture made him initially mistake her for an ordinary maid.

With Bai Zhi, the highly popular Bright Light Sect Saintess, inviting Elder Wang to avert disaster, things naturally progressed very smoothly.

After a short while, Chen Dengming met Elder Wang Pingying of the Affairs Department. After introducing himself, he took out the Sound-Image Pearl and brought up the matter of reporting the blessed land.

"I didn't expect your Longevity Sect to find a suitable blessed land so quickly? Are you sure it's compliant with regulations?"

Wang Pingying was a round, plump man, dressed neatly and simply, with a shrewd and mercenary look in his eyes, but his smile was charming and left a good impression.

This person is clearly a very shrewd and adept social maneuver.

Chen Dengming smiled politely, "Elder Wang, rest assured, it's absolutely compliant. There are no sects within a 500-nautical-mile radius of this blessed land. When we discovered it, there were no signs of anyone having been there. It's an unclaimed piece of land, and the details have been recorded in the Sound-Image Pearl."

Wang Pingying an "Mm," and politely nodded to Bai Zhi with a smile, but inwardly he was quite disapproving, even disgusted.

If it weren't for Bai Zhi, the Bright Light Sect Saintess who stirred his heart, he wouldn't even have met this so-called Longevity Dao Child.

A phoenix in distress is no better than a chicken.

The Longevity Sect was considered a major sect in the Four Regions, and it had a certain reputation.

Now that they've fled to the Four Regions, the Spirit Transformation Ancestor has vanished without a trace, and the other ancestors, having reached a tacit agreement with the Four Seas, are serving at the border. The rest are few and far between; what is Dao Child compared to them?

"Whether the Longevity Sect's lineage can be preserved is still unknown. Their Dao Child was also half-dead. Resources are limited, yet they still want to compete for resources in my Eastern Immortal Sea. Hmph."

Wang Pingying be a stubborn localist; otherwise, he wouldn't have become an elder of the Affairs Department.

He certainly didn't want the Longevity Sect to occupy a certain cultivation treasure land in the Eastern Immortal Sea.

This mentality is similar to how people from one country don't want people from another country to come to their territory and develop by acquiring a large amount of resources for free, even if the probability of such an event affecting them is small.

However, the Longevity Sect's decision to settle in the Eastern Immortal Sea and choose to develop in unclaimed lands was something that the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance had already approved and recognized.

Although Wang Pingying was dissatisfied, with Bai Zhi intervening, he was willing to give face and reluctantly admit it.

However, upon seeing the Spirit Vein status recorded within the Sound-Image Pearl, Wang Pingying's heart skipped a beat, and he looked at Chen Dengming in astonishment.

"You discovered an unclaimed Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein? And there's even a Third-Rank Spirit Vein within it?"

Bai Zhi was also somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein is enough to support the foundation of a top-tier sect, and its value is immeasurable.

Chen Dengming had anticipated that the preciousness of this blessed land would surprise the other party, so he calmly nodded and smiled.

"Indeed, it was also luck. That's why I made a note of it after discovering it and immediately came to report it to Elder Wang."

"Um"

Wang Pingying hesitated for a moment, then put down the Sound-Image Pearl. His mind raced, and various thoughts arose in his head.

Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein is far too precious, and he was unwilling from the bottom of his heart for such a valuable resource to fall into the hands of overseas sects.

But now that the other party has come to his door, and Bai Zhi is a witness, it would be against the rules for him to refuse.

Chen Dengming felt a slight unease as he looked at Wang Pingying's pensive expression.

He had long considered that reporting the matter of Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein blessed land would not be simple, and one should not underestimate the simplistic nature of human relationships.

But now... is something really going to go wrong?

"Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein is, after all, of great importance."

Wang Pingying pondered for a moment, then looked at Chen Dengming, "Fellow Daoist Chen, I need to report this matter further to my superiors before a decision can be made."

Bai Zhi spoke up gently at this moment, "Elder Wang, with the authority you hold, you should be able to make the decision. I know you are a capable person with real power."

Wang Pingying's heart fluttered. Looking at Bai Zhi's beautiful face, he sighed, raised his hand in a gesture of respect, and said with a smile, "Saintess Highness, I am honored by your high regard. I am indeed capable of making the decision, but this is, after all, Fourth-Rank Spirit Vein. I still need to go through the reporting process with my superiors."

A smile flickered in Bai Zhi's beautiful eyes, and she nodded leisurely. "I understand Elder Wang's work, but since I am here today to witness for His Your Highness Daozi, I still hope that Elder Wang can help me and get this done as soon as possible."

"Certainly, certainly! Please wait a moment in the hall. I will report this immediately and then we will be able to secure this auspicious site for Fellow Daoist Chen."

Chen Dengming breathed a sigh of relief, gave Bai Zhi a grateful look, and was about to get up to present a gift to Wang Pingying in order to win him over.

Bai Zhi secretly transmitted her voice, "Your Highness Daozi, if you want to give a gift, there's no rush."

Chen Dengming's heart stirred; he knew that Bai Zhi meant well, and he immediately suppressed the thought of giving her the gift.

Gift-giving is indeed an art.

If you give a good gift, you can build relationships.

If not handled properly, it could cause trouble.

The two immediately stayed inside the hall to wait.

Wang Pingying then went directly into the hall to report.

Chen Dengming looked at Bai Zhi, who was sitting elegantly opposite him. He saw that her beautiful eyes were staring at him with a half-smile, as if she had something to say.

Startled, he met the other's gaze and immediately understood the subtle message conveyed in the other's eyes.

"Your Highness Daozi, aren't you curious about how Elder Wang reported this?"

Chen Dengming felt a subtle emotion, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, and then he activated his Immortal Celestial Dao Power, using his Heavenly Eye.

In an instant, his consciousness became increasingly concentrated, gradually eliminating the surrounding sounds. His Divine Sense, along with his Heavenly Eye, transformed into an invisible detection tool, perceiving the depths of the hall.

But in an instant, he keenly sensed a threat, as if there were restrictions set up deep inside the hall, making him feel like he had thorns in his back even in his Heavenly Eye state, and that going any further would be dangerous.

"Is it blocked by a restriction?"

Bai Zhi observed this scene with a half-smile, also wanting to see the power of the Immortal Celestial Lineage and wonder if Chen Dengming could overcome the restrictions and penetrate deeper into the hall.

At that moment, the blue light in Chen Dengming's eyes became even purer, all distracting thoughts were banished from his mind, and he entered the Heavenly Heart Realm.

If the Heavenly Heart Realm is combined with the Heavenly Eye, and if one can advance further, it will become one of the most powerful abilities of the Immortal Celestial Lineage – 'Heaven's Will'.

This ability, on par with the "Heavenly Immortal Dao Domain," was something Chen Dengming had not yet mastered.

(There will be an extra chapter tonight!)