"Beloved minister, rise quickly!"
Haotian stepped forward to help Jiang Yun up and laughed. "You are the Marshal Tianpeng personally appointed by me, a pillar of my Heavenly Court!"
"If I cannot even protect my own ministers, what meaning is there in being the Heavenly Emperor?!"
"As long as you are unharmed, that is all that matters!"
Though they had borrowed the might of Tongtian and the Interception Sect this time, the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother's direct confrontation with the Primordial Celestial Worthy—
Undoubtedly greatly enhanced the Heavenly Court's prestige as well!
The Queen Mother smiled from the side. "Since the Sage has summoned you, Marshal, you should go at once. His Majesty will arrange for someone to watch over the Heavenly River Navy for the time being. Once you return from hearing the Dao, you may reorganize it."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's consideration!"
Jiang Yun bowed in thanks once more. After the Jade Emperor and Queen Mother departed, he did not linger either, transforming into a streak of light and leaving.
Though Jiang Yun had left, the events of this day swept across the entire Primordial World at a terrifying speed!
Mount Li, within a hidden blessed grotto-heaven.
This was the cultivation grounds of Old Mother of Mount Li, Nuwa's Good Corpse.
A bright-eyed, delicate young girl brimming with spiritual energy hurried into the hall and respectfully bowed. "This disciple, Yang Chan, pays respects to Master!"
Old Mother of Mount Li sat cross-legged upon a cloud couch. Looking at this disciple, who had entered her sect not long ago—
Yet had already cultivated to the True Immortal realm, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Rise."
"Chan'er, your talent truly is remarkable. In such a short time, you have attained this level of cultivation. You are nearly catching up to your two elder brothers."
Yang Chan's eyes immediately lit up upon hearing this, and she eagerly asked, "Master! Do you have news of my eldest and second brothers?!"
When the Yang family tragedy occurred, Yang Chan had still been an infant. She had been taken away by Nuwa's Good Corpse and had nearly forgotten what her family looked like.
Old Mother of Mount Li smiled faintly and sighed. "They truly have good fortune, to have taken such a fine master."
"Your master did something earth-shattering today!"
"With the body of a Golden Immortal, he forcefully confronted a Quasi-Sage, slew a Grand Unity Golden Immortal against the odds, and even faced a Sage without falling behind—"
"In the future, if I wish to make my own calculations, I may even have to owe him a karmic debt."
Yang Chan was utterly confused, but she knew it was good news. She could not help but plead sweetly, "Master, stop keeping me in suspense. Please tell your disciple!"
Old Mother of Mount Li shook her head helplessly.
"You should simply cultivate diligently. The time is not yet right!"
As she spoke, she turned over her palm, and an anciently shaped treasure lamp radiating seven-colored divine light appeared.
"This is a Supreme-Grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, the Lotus Lantern!"
"I grant it to you today for your protection."
"Refine it well and cultivate diligently. One day, your siblings will naturally be reunited!"
Yang Chan accepted the treasure lamp and said gratefully, "Thank you, Master!!"
Watching Yang Chan's departing figure, Old Mother of Mount Li's gaze became profound as she looked toward the Eastern Sea and murmured, "Marshal Tianpeng Jiang Yun—"
"The Interception Sect and the Clarifying Sect—perhaps I must reassess my plans."
The west, Mount Sumeru.
By the Eight-Treasure Merit Pool.
Daoist Jieyin wore a pained expression as prayer beads turned in his hand.
Daoist Zhunti, meanwhile, stared toward the east with blazing eyes, his gaze filled with regret and greed.
"Senior Brother!"
"Who would have thought! Our attempt to scheme against Holy Mother of Fire Spirit failed last time, yet another uncut jade of such extraordinary quality has emerged among the third generation of the Interception Sect!"
"He plans before acting and kills decisively!"
"His actions may seem mad, but in truth, he advances step by step, every move firmly treading the line!"
"Such temperament, such methods, such talent—"
Zhunti sighed. "If he could join our Western Sect, why would we need to worry about the west not flourishing greatly?!!"
Jieyin replied in a sorrowful voice, "Junior Brother, think of it no more."
"This child is like Tongtian—unyielding in his pride, preferring to break rather than bend. He is not fated with our west."
"Furthermore, he is far too dangerous."
"The tribulation is now approaching, and the Investiture of the Gods is about to begin. The Clarifying and Interception Sects have already become as incompatible as fire and water."
"We need only watch the changes unfold and observe the east fight among themselves. When both sides are wounded, that will be the opportunity for our west to flourish!"
Zhunti nodded, a glint flashing through his eyes. "Senior Brother is absolutely right."
"However, now that Jiang Yun has entered the game, these muddy waters will only grow murkier—"
One month later.
Eastern Sea, Golden Turtle Island.
Golden Turtle Island was flourishing with ten thousand immortals arriving today, auspicious vapors stretching across the skies.
Countless Interception Sect disciples returned to their ancestral court from all corners of the Primordial World, either riding escape lights or mounting strange beasts.
The enormous plaza before the Azure Roaming Palace had long since become packed with people.
And today, without exception, the focus of everyone's discussion was a single name—Jiang Yun!
"Have you heard? Junior Nephew Jiang Yun was simply godlike in that battle at Jade Spring Mountain!"
"Godlike? That was defying the heavens! A Golden Immortal slaying a Daluo—this has never been seen before and will never be seen again!"
"Tsk, tsk. Junior Nephew Jiang Yun has cultivated for only a little over a thousand years, hasn't he? Yet he has already grown to such a level. It truly puts us to shame!"
"Hmph! The Clarifying Sect has always looked down its nose at others. This time, Junior Nephew Jiang Yun thoroughly humiliated them. What a delight!"
"Exactly! With Junior Nephew Jiang Yun in our Interception Sect, we are bound to flourish!"
Countless voices of praise and admiration rose and fell across the plaza.
Just then, someone shouted, "Look! Senior Sister Shi Ji is here!"
Hearing this, everyone turned to look.
In the distant sky, a female immortal dressed in elegant palace robes rode an Azure Luan as she drifted gracefully over.
It was none other than Lady Shiji of Bone Cave on Skeleton Mountain!
"Greetings, Senior Sister Shi Ji!"
"Greetings, Martial Aunt Shi Ji!"
"Senior Sister Shi Ji, may you be well!"
For a time, Interception Sect disciples across the plaza, regardless of their cultivation, all stepped forward to greet her of their own accord, their attitudes incomparably respectful.
This was utterly different from how Shi Ji had once been treated as a "transparent figure," even looked down upon in private by certain disciples!
Such was reality!
A mother gained status through her son, and a master gained honor through her disciple!
With a heaven-defying monster like Jiang Yun as her disciple, who would dare look down on Shi Ji in the slightest?
Even the Seven Attendant Immortals, who normally held themselves high above others, smiled and nodded at Shi Ji now.
Though Shi Ji could be a little simple-minded, she was no fool. Naturally, she sensed everyone's enthusiasm.
While smiling in response to the crowd, she looked around among them, her eyes revealing unconcealed anxiety.
"That brat, why hasn't he come yet?"
"Doesn't he know what day this is? What if he is late and the teacher blames him—"
Just as Shi Ji was worrying to herself.
"Boom—!!!"
A streak of incomparably brilliant golden light suddenly descended from the heavens!
Within the golden light came waves of qilin roars. Baleful energy and auspicious aura intertwined, creating a terrifying spectacle!
When the golden light dispersed, it revealed three figures.
The man at the front wore white robes whiter than snow, with a vertical eye on his brow. He rode a Black Qilin at the Peak Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, Merit golden light faintly visible around him, as though a divine being had descended into the world!
Behind him followed two extraordinary young men with heroic bearing. Their auras were powerful and steady, and they had already reached the Peak Mysterious Immortal realm!
They were none other than Jiang Yun and his two disciples, Yang Jiao and Yang Jian!
Before you continue