The heartland of the Wind Kingdom.
Unlike the extremely strict controls within the Great Chu Kingdom—where organized soldiers patrolled every market town, prefecture, and even villages—the cultivation atmosphere within the Wind Kingdom was significantly more free.
In a Daoist temple deep in the mountains.
Chen Shuangbai spent a few Spirit Stone to stay here for a day or two.
That day.
The sky was clear and the air was fresh; the mountain scenery was breathtaking.
On a cliffside inn, a young Daoist priest, dressed in a moon-white scholar's robe, wearing a hibiscus crown, with a precious jade pendant at his waist, and holding a feather fan in his hand, stood by the window overlooking the mountains and fields, as if appreciating the serene beauty of the empty mountains after the rain.
This person was none other than Chen Shuangbai, who had once again changed his appearance.
Now he goes by the alias Tang Yu, and his true identity is the successor of a secluded temple in the mountains.
This journey down the mountain is not only to temper my State of Mind, but also to appreciate the customs and people of this Vast Blue Fertile Lands, broaden my horizons, and strive for advancement to the Golden Core stage in the future.
With a creak.
A young Daoist boy in blue robes pushed open the door and entered from outside, carrying a tray of tea and snacks, which he carefully placed on the table.
It was none other than Feiguang, disguised as his junior brother.
"Senior brother, this is a tea break prepared by the temple. Please have some."
Chen Shuangbai nodded slightly, stepped forward and sat down with Feiguang to enjoy the tea break with the characteristics of the Wind Kingdom. In fact, her Divine Sense had been covering the place from beginning to end, to prevent any trouble from happening again.
Feiguang glanced at the bland and unappetizing tea break while secretly transmitting his voice, "My lord, I have already found out."
"This place is in the south-central part of the Wind Kingdom. Nearby is a large city called Green Mulberry City, which is under the jurisdiction of a second-rate sect called Mystic Frost Sect."
"The Mystic Frost Sect has about two or three hundred members, the highest being only in the Middle Golden Core Stage. There are no particularly noteworthy experts among them."
Chen Shuangbai nodded slightly, then stopped eating the tea and turned her gaze back to the window.
It had just rained, and the air in the mountains was filled with the moist fragrance of grass and trees.
The distant mountains were washed clean and looked lush and green, with wisps of clouds clinging to their waists. Occasionally, a few birds would be startled and take flight, soaring through the clouds and mist, creating a scene resembling a landscape painting.
After taking the full force of the furious blow from the Great Chu King Shi Yang, [Feng Zhen Zi Hao Cheng Ming Xuan Tian Men] was not seriously injured, but he was somewhat damaged. Now, Hao Ming Tong Zi is still groaning in pain.
As for the rest... they're alright.
It can be said that Chen Shuangbai, a Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator, did not suffer significant damage in his first battle against Spirit Transformation Profound Lord.
This can already be described as arrogance.
"If I hadn't been decisive enough to reveal a few of my trump cards before that Prince Shiyang had fully arrived, and had forced my way in... I'm probably not here today, but in the Great Chu's prison."
Recalling that day, Chen Shuangbai still felt lingering fear.
The difference between Spirit Transformation and Nascent Soul is like the difference between Nascent Soul and Golden Core —truly a world of difference.
Even with just a remote attack, it was still able to injure the main body of the [Fengzhen Zihao Chengming Xuantianmen], which was at the level of Supreme-Grade Spirit Treasure!
"If this were to fall on my true form, it would probably cause at least severe injury!"
Having considered this, Chen Shuangbai couldn't help but feel fortunate for her decisiveness at the time!
We ate and drank our fill.
Chen Shuangbai retrieved the map of the Wind Kingdom that Feiguang had obtained from the temple using Spirit Stone.
The Vast Blue Fertile Lands of the Eastern Domain are divided in two parts: half is the territory of the Great Chu Dynasty, and the other half is occupied by eight states, including the Wind Kingdom, that jointly resisted the Great Chu Dynasty...
Of course, the strength of these eight small countries alone was insufficient to withstand the pressure from the Great Chu Dynasty.
Most importantly, behind these eight small countries stand several cultivation forces—
Jade Palace, one of the Four Palaces; Golden Light Cliff, one of the Five Sects; Primordial Zither Sect; Pillow Stream Mountain and Armor Cloud Mountain, two of the Six Immortal Mountains; Flowing Light Sword Sect, one of the Seven Swords; Flying Snow Sword Sect.
And the foremost of the Three King Cities, White Emperor City!
White Emperor City is located on the coast of the sea, but it holds a distant sway over the Great Chu Dynasty. Its current city lord, known as the [ White Emperor ], is a figure at the Mahayana Celestial Person Realm!
It was precisely the existence of White Emperor City that made the Great Chu Dynasty so wary, clamoring to launch a war every year, but every year they could only cause some minor frictions on the border and then engage in some verbal sparring.
Chen Shuangbai is currently within the territory of the Wind Kingdom, specifically the area of Armor Cloud Mountain. The royal family of the country has historically paid homage to Armor Cloud Mountain and made many offerings there.
"Indeed, wherever there are people, there is struggle!"
"Especially for cultivators, who need to consume numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures to advance, it's highly unlikely they'll stay put in the race."
Chen Shuangbai murmured.
The white-robed Daoist sitting beside him put down his jade cup, nodded slightly, and agreed, "That's right."
Chen Shuangbai's body stiffened, as if she had been frozen in place, her thoughts seemingly frozen in that instant.
His Divine Ability were utterly useless.
However, it wasn't that it was sealed away, but rather that its instincts were suppressed when facing a higher being, and no matter how it tried to activate it, it wouldn't react.
He turned his head inch by inch, slowly looking at the white-robed Daoist on his right, observing the man's rather handsome appearance, his beard, and his rather kind round face.
His Divine Sense pervaded the entire guesthouse; even the mosquitoes flying past the window could not escape his perception.
But the white-robed Daoist priest in front of him seemed to appear out of thin air, without any warning, without any trace, and without even disturbing the air.
This isn't a matter of whether the concealment technique is skillful or not—it's pure suppression of one's realm.
Spirit Transformation Profound Lord?!
The white-robed Daoist's round face showed no signs of Divine Ability power, only a gentle smile as he gazed at Chen Shuangbai.
He seemed to sense Chen Shuangbai's nervousness, stood up, and slowly walked towards the window, lightly patting Chen Shuangbai's right shoulder midway.
"Don't be nervous, I'm not that Prince Shiyang."
It was this single blow that allowed Chen Shuangbai to finally move, as if she had been granted a pardon.
He slowly stood up, and out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Feiguang, who was still standing to the side. His heart pounded like a drum, but he quickly suppressed it.
A short while later, Chen Shuangbai turned around, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to the white-robed Daoist, and spoke with a tone that was both respectful and composed:
"Your humble servant Tang Yu pays respects to the Profound Lord!"
The white-robed Daoist priest was already standing by the window, gazing at the pristine mountain and water scenery outside. He chuckled softly, "Hmm... not a bad name, but it's a fake."
Chen Shuangbai felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained impassive, maintaining his respectful smile. He then saw the white-robed Daoist turn around, looking at him with a half-smile.
"Your illusion has a high concept, but the technique is very simplistic."
Chen Shuangbai looked down and saw that the moon-white scholar's robe he was wearing had disappeared, and his pupils dilated slightly again.
"It was someone who patted my shoulder just now..."
After understanding everything, Chen Shuangbai calmed down.
He slowly straightened up, his gaze no longer darting left and right, but looking directly at the Profound Lord Spirit Transformation before him, and said in a deep voice, "May I ask, senior... could you be the Nascent Soul Spirit Transformation from White Emperor City who fought against that Prince Shiyang that day?"
Seeing that he had regained his composure so quickly, the white-robed Daoist priest's eyes flashed with approval. He stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Not bad."
"To be able to stabilize one's mind in front of me, a Nascent Spirit Transformation, in such a short time... putting everything else aside, this composure is already far superior to others."
"I am Spirit Transformation from White Emperor City, and I am respectfully addressed as Lord Guanyue by the city's inhabitants!"
[PS: One more chapter, coming soon! Please give me gifts! Please give me good reviews! Please urge me to update!]