He made his way alone to the summit of Ten-Thousand Rosy Clouds Mountain.
This time, True Lord Rainbow-Haloed Rosy Clouds did not leave her palace to welcome him. Instead, she opened the gates of the Ten-Thousand Rosy Clouds Blessings Palace and let Zhang Yuan enter on his own.
He did not hesitate.
Zhang Yuan walked into the Ten-Thousand Rosy Clouds Blessings Palace.
Auspicious mist and rosy clouds filled the palace. True Lord Rainbow-Haloed Rosy Clouds sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion at the very front, her tender, jade-like feet still bare. A seven-colored wheel of light shone behind her, and her fingers formed a seal, as though she were cultivating and contemplating the Dao.
"Greetings, True Lord." Zhang Yuan gathered his wandering thoughts, bowed, and cupped his hands.
True Lord Rainbow-Haloed Rosy Clouds opened her eyes, countless colors seeming to blossom within them. Her very first words answered a question that had briefly flashed through Zhang Yuan's mind. "I do not like wearing shoes," she said calmly.
Zhang Yuan: ...?
For a moment, Zhang Yuan did not know what to say. After a brief silence, he replied in a subdued voice, "You are truly free-spirited, True Lord."
The True Lord Who Hated Wearing Shoes, was it? Heh...
True Lord Rainbow-Haloed Rosy Clouds was not annoyed. With a wave of her hand, she took out a white Daoist robe embroidered with the sun and moon. A faint seven-colored halo emanated from it, revealing the conceptual image unique to a Pre-Heaven Supreme Treasure. In an instant, it flew into Zhang Yuan's hands.
A Pre-Heaven Supreme Treasure-the Sun-Moon Seven-Hue Robe.
The robe first landed in Zhang Yuan's hands, then suddenly unfolded and wrapped around him. In less than a breath, it had dressed him, displaying remarkable sentience.
"What a fine treasure."
Zhang Yuan