Visiting Famous Mountains, Encountering Xiaoyao Amid the Peaks

Though the matter was difficult to handle, Yun Zhongzi did not lose heart. He still intended to find a chance to bring it up before his master. What if his master agreed?

"Martial Uncle, may I ask where Bitter Bamboo was after taking human form?"

Yun Zhongzi was not a rash man. Since he intended to raise this matter before a Saint, he needed to make preparations. It would be best if he could meet that spirit root after its transformation, so that when speaking before the Saint in the future, he would have something convincing to say.

"That is simple!"

Li Yu smiled. "After Bitter Bamboo took human form, he proved quite intelligent. His Daoist name is Zhu Lingzi, and he is currently cultivating under Zhen Yuanzi at Five Villages Temple on Longevity Mountain. If you wish to see him, you may make a trip to Five Villages Temple."

Though Yun Zhongzi wondered why Zhu Lingzi was not cultivating under Li Yu, he did not ask. It had little to do with him; knowing where Zhu Lingzi cultivated was enough.

With this matter on his mind, Yun Zhongzi lingered with Li Yu for only one day before hurriedly departing for Five Villages Temple.

Li Yu had deliberately sought to befriend Yun Zhongzi this time. As for what use it might have in the future, that was difficult to say. Yun Zhongzi in particular was a man of profound fortune and virtue within the Chan Sect. During the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, he had not had his cultivation stripped away, but passed through the calamity whole and unscathed.

In Li Yu's eyes, such a person was naturally worth befriending.

After Yun Zhongzi left, Li Yu remained on Ox-Head Mountain for several more years. Only when Haotian reached ten years of age did he plan to depart.

"Immortal Elder, how was my practice?"

Ten-year-old Haotian held an iron sword and performed a set of sword forms before Li Yu. Li Yu had taught it to him, along with some ordinary martial arts and a basic breathing technique.

Relying on these to embark upon the path of cultivation was naturally impossible, but they were more than enough to strengthen the body and improve one's health.

Li Yu did not know how many times Haotian would have to be reincarnated and undergo tribulations before attaining fruition, but at least from the looks of it, this was not his first reincarnation trial.

The Haotian before him looked no different from the other children his age in the tribe, but who knew whether, one day in the future, this child might undergo some change—such as suddenly recalling memories from his past lives.

Li Yu was deeply concerned that too much interference and contact would leave an unfavorable impression in the future Jade Emperor's heart, making him seem calculating and deliberately ingratiating.

Thus, over the years, Li Yu had not visited often. Now, he had decided to leave this place as well.

"Your swordplay was good. I can see that you have worked hard. After I leave, continue as you have been." Li Yu said.

"Immortal Elder, are you leaving? When will you come back?" Haotian's mood dimmed somewhat.

Li Yu shook his head. "I will not return. This poor Daoist has remained here for ten years; it is time to depart."

"Ah!"

Haotian had not expected that this was what Li Yu meant by leaving, and for a moment, he found it hard to accept.

"Then, Immortal Elder, can you take me with you?"

Li Yu still shook his head. "Your path should be walked by yourself. There is fate between you and me, but not the fate of master and disciple. We will meet again in the future. By then, you will understand everything."

As he spoke, Li Yu took out some spirit fruits and handed them to Haotian. "This may be the last time I bring you fruit to eat."

Having done all this, Li Yu rode a cloud of auspicious light away from Clear Creek Tribe. Though Haotian called after him several more times below, Li Yu left without turning back.

"The Immortal Elder has finally left."

Ten years had passed, and Wu Yun had already begun to show his age. He came to his son's side, and together they looked up at that cloud of auspicious light drifting away.

Ever since Li Yu had refused to accept his son as a disciple, Wu Yun had known that one day,

Li Yu would leave. It was only a matter of sooner or later. After leaving, Li Yu began considering where he should go. The Human Race still lived in tribes, gathered together without yet forming towns or cities, so there was little bustle to be found. Naturally, he had little desire to go there.

In the end, he decided to continue traveling through the famous mountains and great rivers of the Primordial World, to see how the Three Teachings' legacies fared across the Primordial Wilderness.

One day, as Li Yu flew over a range of mountains, he suddenly saw an area among them shrouded in clouds and mist, with faint rays of rosy light scattering from within.

Such a sight was no longer rare to Li Yu. Whenever it appeared, there was surely a sect hidden within, though he did not know which teaching's legacy it was.

Whenever he encountered such a place, Li Yu always descended to pay a visit. Thus, over the years, he had visited quite a few orthodox legacies of the Three Teachings throughout the Primordial Wilderness.

Among them, the Chan Sect had the most legacies, the Truncated Teaching came second, and the Human Sect had the fewest.

It was not difficult to understand why the Human Sect had the fewest legacies. But the Truncated Teaching proclaimed that ten thousand immortals came to pay court, yet its mortal legacies were actually inferior to those of the Chan Sect. That was rather strange.

Li Yu parted the clouds and mist, only to find a great formation below, enveloping numerous mountain peaks.

"Who goes there? Why have you come to our Xiaoyao Sect?"

Li Yu had not concealed his aura, so the disciple responsible for guarding the mountain naturally noticed him.

"Xiaoyao Sect? Are you a legacy of the Human Sect?" Li Yu asked.

The mountain-guarding disciple studied Li Yu, feeling that he had seen him somewhere before. "Our sect is indeed an orthodox legacy of the Human Sect!"

Seeing the imposing mountain-protecting formation of Xiaoyao Sect, Li Yu could tell that the sect had developed quite well. There was likely an expert stationed within.

Having traveled the Primordial World for so long, among all the Human Sect legacies he had seen, Xiaoyao Sect was currently the most flourishing.

"This poor Daoist is the Human Sect's Deputy Headmaster. Passing through this place today, I wish to visit your honored sect. Could you lead me inside?"

The moment Li Yu said this, the mountain-guarding disciple immediately understood why Li Yu had seemed familiar. Within his sect's main hall were two enshrined portraits of patriarchs: one was of the Saintly Sect Master, while the other was of the Human Sect's Deputy Headmaster.

"This disciple, Yang Tian, greets Deputy Headmaster!"

"No need for ceremony!"

After offering his thanks, Yang Tian opened a gap in the formation and respectfully welcomed Li Yu inside.

"Deputy Headmaster, this disciple will lead you to the main hall at once. If the Sect Master and elders learn that you have come, they will surely be overjoyed!" Yang Tian said with some excitement.

Li Yu nodded. "May I ask how many disciples the sect currently has?"

"Reporting to Deputy Headmaster, the sect has seventeen peak lineages, totaling more than seven thousand people, as well as three mountain-protecting divine beasts," Yang Tian replied.

"How is Xiaoyao Sect regarded among mortals?"

"Our sect is a major Human Sect, enough to rank among the top three Human Sect legacies. At the same time, we maintain good relations with the Chan Sect and Truncated Teaching legacies, so our reputation is excellent!"

As Li Yu followed Yang Tian, they happened to fly over a lofty peak. Yang Tian continued, "Deputy Headmaster, please look. This peak is Morning Glow Peak. Within our sect, it is the first peak to see the sunrise, hence its name. This peak has more than two hundred and eighty disciples."

Following Yang Tian's explanation, Li Yu looked down. Quite a few disciples were cultivating on Morning Glow Peak, and from this sight, they appeared rather diligent.