Deng Bai stood utterly motionless, drawing Jiang Xinyi's attention and a slight sidelong glance.
Zhang Yuan withdrew the pressure of his celestial person status at just the right moment. Deng Bai was pale and trembling, unable to speak for a time. All he could do was instinctively call out to his protector, Jiang Xinyi.
"M-Master."
Jiang Xinyi's gaze remained calm. Apparently, she had noticed nothing amiss, much less suspected that Zhang Yuan was a Foundation Establishment Celestial. She merely assumed Deng Bai was overly nervous.
Earth Immortals of the Ancient Immortal Dao were exceedingly rare in the Mountain-Sea Profound Yellow Realm. Every one of them was a mighty figure who could dominate an island, or even an entire stretch of sea. How could an Earth Immortal possibly stoop to disguising himself as a mortal and becoming a menial disciple of the Azure Nether Immortal Sect?
Jiang Xinyi nodded lightly, then took Deng Bai away through space.
The hall emptied.
Moving naturally, Zhang Yuan approached Supreme Elder Qin Jieyu and cupped his hands slightly. "Supreme Elder."
Qin Jieyu wore a plain white, wide-sleeved robe, its skirt adorned with pale jade-green ribbons that lent her an ethereal air. Her black hair was tied high and crowned with an exquisite silver hairpiece-the very image of a cool, otherworldly immortal maiden.
Yet a faint melancholy came naturally to Qin Jieyu's features. With her brows and eyes slightly lowered and her demeanor mild, it was truly difficult to associate her with an immortal maiden from the heavens.
At his voice, Qin Jieyu stopped fiddling with her fingers and raised her head slightly. Looking at Zhang Yuan, she corrected him. "You should call me Master."
Zhang Yuan did not change his form of address. Instead, he spoke truthfully and apologetically. "Supreme Elder, I already have a