A Short Stay in the Tribe, an Encounter with Yun Zhongzi

Li Yu said he would stay, but he did not actually live within the tribe. After all, immortals and mortals were worlds apart. If he remained in the tribe for too long, it might not be a good thing.

In the end, Li Yu settled on an Ox-Head Mountain ten li southwest of the tribe. The mountain resembled an ox's head, which was why the locals called it Ox-Head Mountain, Ox-Head Peak, Ox-Head Mountain, and the like.

This was no famous mountain or great river. On the contrary, it was merely an ordinary peak, without any grandeur or splendor.

Li Yu carried a cave-heaven treasure with him. After finding a fairly good spot on Ox-Head Mountain, he released the cave-heaven he carried and merged it with the rocks. This was the advantage of cave-heaven treasures: they could establish a residence suitable for secluded cultivation anytime, anywhere. Of course, to prevent disturbances, he still set up several formations to conceal it.

Only after settling here did Li Yu learn that this tribe was called the Clear Creek Tribe. A clear stream lay not far away, serving as the tribe's water source and sustaining its people, hence the tribe's name.

Naturally, there were many such tribes throughout the Primordial World. They were scattered across different regions and found communication inconvenient, so there was no need to worry about duplicate names.

The people of the Clear Creek Tribe all knew that an immortal lived on Ox-Head Mountain. Many tribesmen had come hoping to join Li Yu as disciples, but all returned empty-handed. Once they entered Ox-Head Mountain, they could not even find the entrance to Li Yu's dojo.

Had Li Yu not occasionally appeared at Chief Wu Yun's home, many of the tribesmen would have suspected that he had already left Ox-Head Mountain.

"Immortal Elder, do you think my son can enter your sect and cultivate under you?"

As time passed, even Chief Wu Yun gradually began to entertain the thought of having his own child take a master.

However, Li Yu shook his head. Haotian's tribulation was meant to prepare him to one day ascend to the lofty position of ruler over the Three Realms. He was also the candidate personally chosen by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

In this matter, the one moving the pieces on the chessboard was Dao Ancestor himself. Li Yu did not dare interfere.

"Chief Wu Yun, your son and I have no fate as master and disciple. Do not mention this matter again in the future," Li Yu said.

Wu Yun was puzzled and asked, "If that is so, why did you come on the day my son was born, Immortal Elder? And why did you later take up residence on Ox-Head Mountain? Were these not all because of my son?"

Li Yu did not deny it. "Those things were indeed because of your son, but it is impossible for him and me to become master and disciple. Still, when I have the time, I can give him a few pointers in some rudimentary cultivation methods."

Hearing this, Wu Yun saw that Li Yu had loosened his stance somewhat and was still delighted. "Then many thanks to you, Immortal Elder."

"No matter. Once he is a little older, I will come and guide him in cultivation."

Li Yu looked at Haotian, who could already run about on his own without anyone supporting him, and silently considered how far he should go in the future.

Since it was a tribulation, Haotian would most likely undergo it as a mortal, or at most someone with a little cultivation. If his cultivation became too high, there would probably not be so many trials and hardships.

Therefore, when guiding Haotian in cultivation, Li Yu could only touch upon it and stop. He could not cross that bottom line, or else his good intentions would only lead to bad results.

Li Yu generally came to the Clear Creek Tribe only once every three to five months. He never stayed long and would soon depart again. Each time he came, he brought Haotian strange treasures and exotic fruits as gifts.

Just as he was about to leave today, he saw auspicious clouds descending outside the tribe. It seemed another expert had arrived.

Li Yu immediately became suspicious. Was this a coincidence, or had someone arranged it deliberately? If it was the latter, who could that person be?

With such doubts in his heart, he could no longer act as before, simply giving Haotian immortal fruits before leaving.

"Chief Wu Yun, it seems your household is about to receive another guest," Li Yu said with a smile.

"A guest? Who?"

Just as Wu Yun stood there completely bewildered,

A clear voice rang out from beyond the courtyard. "Yun Zhongzi, a Qi Refiner from Jade Pillar Cave on Mount Zhongnan, has come to pay a visit. Might the master of this household come out and meet me?"

Yun Zhongzi?

A disciple of the Chan Sect—could Yuanshi Tianzun be making arrangements, intending to interfere in this matter?

Still, Li Yu nodded at Wu Yun. Only then did Wu Yun understand and head outside to welcome the immortal Yun Zhongzi.

When Wu Yun arrived outside the courtyard, he saw that the newcomer bore a precious sword on his back and held a whisk in his hand. His green beard fluttered in the breeze, and he carried the air of an immortal.

"Wu Yun, chief of the Clear Creek Tribe, greets Immortal Elder!"

Yun Zhongzi flicked his whisk and said, "So you are Chief Wu Yun. This humble Daoist greets you."

"Immortal Elder, please come inside!"

Yun Zhongzi followed Wu Yun into the courtyard, only then noticing that there was another person within. He could not help but feel alarmed. He had been outside just moments ago, practically within arm's reach, yet he had not sensed this person at all.

Yun Zhongzi could not help looking at Li Yu a few more times, but he could discern nothing about him. At once, he became certain that the man before him was no ordinary person.

"This humble Daoist is Yun Zhongzi, a disciple of the Chan Sect. May I ask how I should address you, Fellow Daoist?" Yun Zhongzi stepped forward and asked.

"So you are a disciple of a Saint. Then we may be considered close. This humble Daoist is Li Yu of the Human Sect."

The moment Yun Zhongzi heard that name, it sounded familiar. Then it struck him—the Human Sect's Deputy Sect Leader bore precisely that name.

"So it is Martial Uncle Li. Greetings!"

Li Yu chuckled. "No need for such courtesy. Did you come here today under the Saint's arrangements?"

Yun Zhongzi shook his head. "Yes, and no."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Previously, my master calculated that the Human Race was destined to prosper. He therefore sent us disciples down the mountain, whether to spread the Chan Sect's teachings, take in qualified third-generation disciples, or seek those fit to become the Human Race's common ruler and guide them. While passing through this place, I suddenly felt something stir within me. I sensed that there was someone here with immense fortune, so I came to take a look."

After hearing Yun Zhongzi's words, Li Yu understood that the Chan Sect was laying out its plans for the Human Race, just as he was laying out plans for the Heavenly Court through the Human Race. At present, only the Truncated Teaching had yet to act, still living freely and at ease.

"Then it seems this person of immense fortune is this child."

As Li Yu spoke, he looked toward Haotian, who was playing nearby. Yun Zhongzi followed his gaze and secretly began calculating. This calculation was no small matter—it left him utterly confused.

The fortune surrounding this child was simply immeasurable, the greatest Yun Zhongzi had ever seen in his life. It was already far beyond what the bearing of a Human Race common ruler could contain. Yet when he calculated more closely, he could not see the child's future at all. Heavenly secrets were a vast expanse of Chaos.

Yun Zhongzi could not make heads or tails of it. He even began to suspect that Li Yu had secretly done something to interfere with his calculations.

Seeing Yun Zhongzi's tightly furrowed brows and puzzled expression, Li Yu smiled from the side. "Do not waste your effort. This child will not become the Human Race's common ruler, nor does he have any fate with your Chan Sect. Now that you have seen him, you should leave."

"It seems Martial Uncle knows something. Could you perhaps explain a little?"

Li Yu shook his head. "This matter is of great importance. This humble Daoist does not dare speak carelessly. If you wish to know the reasons behind it, you may return and ask your master. If the Saint is willing to tell you, then there is no issue. In any case, I will not speak recklessly."