After experiencing the customs and culture of the Song Kingdom, Chen Shuangbai finally stepped into the territory of the Xi Kingdom.
As recorded on maps and in popular conversation, the land of the Xi Kingdom is rich in moisture, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, with many towns and villages nestled in the mountains and built along the water, making it a veritable land of lakes and marshes.
After entering the Xi Kingdom, Chen Shuangbai did not linger and headed straight for Pillow Stream Mountain.
Pillow Stream Mountain is the only sacred place for spiritual practice in the Xi Kingdom.
In order to establish themselves, all cultivation forces within the Xi Kingdom must pay homage to the Pillow Stream Mountain and continue their lineage.
This sacred mountain is situated on the coast of the sea.
Where the sky meets the sea, a majestic mountain silhouette lies quietly on the shore of the waves of the Sea of Immortals.
Even though they were hundreds of miles apart, the gentle spiritual energy spread out in waves like the tides, nourishing the entire land of the Xi Kingdom along the waterways.
Zhanlu crouched down, gently scooping up a handful of water with her delicate hands. Sensing the spiritual energy contained within, she exclaimed, "Nourished by this spiritual energy, even a mortal who has never cultivated would live several years longer than those from other countries!"
"What a grand gesture!"
Shenyang stood beside him, a faint golden light shining in his eyes. He squinted at the mountain silhouette that sprawled along the seashore and clicked his tongue, saying, "The spiritual energy alone that dissipates can nourish the land and water of an entire nation... The Spirit Vein beneath Pillow Stream Mountain must be top-tier even among fifth-order mountains, right?"
Chen Shuangbai also had some feelings to share.
Although the visit to the mountain has not yet been fully completed, the sheer scale of this display alone reveals that... the foundation of this sacred mountain is likely deeper than any other sacred mountain on the Celebrated Splendor Continent!
The group looked on in amazement.
At the same time, Chen Shuangbai also felt the slight heat emanating from the [Guanxuan Dinglan Zhizheng Sinan], as if it resonated with the distant immortal mountain.
After a brief moment of reflection, Chen Shuangbai set off again.
However, Shenyang and Zhanlu returned to the Heavenly Gate, leaving only Feiguang and Changming to accompany Chen Shuangbai.
Chen Shuangbai fled along the crisscrossing waterways of the Xi Kingdom.
The closer you get to Pillow Stream Mountain, the stronger the spiritual energy in the air becomes; even your breath has a sweet taste.
The number of cultivators encountered along the way gradually increased—there were sword cultivators in green robes riding flying swords, scholars in white robes riding spirit boats, and Rogue Cultivator riding various spirit birds, all heading in the same direction.
"Only the only holy land... can possess such grandeur!"
Feiguang clicked his tongue in amazement.
He could sense that the overall strength of the cultivators along the way was significantly higher than that of the cultivators in the Celebrated Splendor Continent.
Even those Rogue Cultivator... are much better than some of the major sect cultivators in the Celebrated Splendor Continent.
Indeed, only a continent brimming with spiritual energy like this could nurture and sustain such a large number and high quality of cultivators.
As dusk fell, the Setting Sun painted the sky a brilliant orange-red.
Chen Shuangbai finally approached Pillow Stream Mountain.
Looking up, the entire fairy mountain lies prostrate on the seashore, with layers upon layers of clouds and mist as if draping it in a pure white robe, making it resemble a shy fairy who hides her true face in the clouds and mist, making it impossible for outsiders to see her true nature.
Even the occasional glimpse of something reveals sparks endless speculation.
"It's probably a fifth-tier grand formation..."
Chen Shuangbai secretly activated his divine eye, not daring to investigate too openly, but he could still discern some mysteries.
He withdrew his Divine Ability and landed in a market town at the foot of the mountain.
The next day.
As dawn broke, the cries of vendors echoed throughout the market.
Feiguang pushed open the window, and bright sunlight shone in from outside. Chen Shuangbai slowly awoke from her meditation, gently vibrating her Law Power to dispel the filth from her body. She slowly rose and softly said:
"Setting out to pay homage to the mountain."
Standing before the gate of Pillow Stream Mountain, Chen Shuangbai looked around.
As dawn broke, the mountain mist still lingered. The bright sunlight pierced through the thin fog, casting dappled shadows in the dense forest in front of the mountain gate, further highlighting the serene and otherworldly atmosphere of this place.
Chen Shuangbai, accompanied by Feiguang and Changming, removed the illusions from her body, revealing her true appearance. To show respect, she climbed the steps and finally stopped at the foot of a magnificent jade archway hidden in the dense bamboo forest.
There are couplets on both sides of the archway.
Feiguang looked to the right and recited, "One branch flows off to the sea."
"Embracing the moon for a thousand years, awaiting the rising tide."
The second half of the sentence was read aloud by Changming.
As for Chen Shuangbai, he looked at the four characters in the center of the archway—
"Pillow water and wash stone."
These four characters, along with the couplets on the left and right, are enough to show the reclusive spirit of the former sages who owned this place, as well as their yearning for the Immortal Dao.
But Chen Shuangbai discerned something else entirely from it.
Perhaps it was because he had lingered for too long, or perhaps it was because Chen Shuangbai's ethereal beauty made her seem like an ordinary visitor to anyone, but a Daoist priest slowly walked out from behind the door and strode toward the two of them.
When the Daoist priest approached, he first bowed respectfully and said politely, "May I ask who this Daoist priest is...?"
The second half of his sentence stuck in his throat, and his eyes reflected a rich, ethereal blue light.
A Divine Ability light gradually spread out from behind Chen Shuangbai, and a blue-green water rippled out from beneath his feet. Five layers of water intertwined behind his head, gradually transforming into a blue-green halo. As the light flowed, this blue-green halo resembled an abyss, clinging to his robes like soldiers guarding a king.
"The nameless Rogue Cultivator Xuhong has come to pay his respects at the mountain."
The Daoist's pupils contracted slightly.
He lowered his eyes slightly, his tone becoming respectful, and bowed deeply. "So it is True Lord Xuhong... You must be tired from your journey. Please come into the hall and we will serve you tea."
Welcome Hall.
After personally serving a cup of spiritual tea, the disciple named Sun Heming from Pillow Stream Mountain slowly said, "This is Bilan Spring, a specialty of Pillow Stream Mountain. It is difficult to grow and to cultivate... It only yields a little over ten catties each year, and it is only True Lord, have caught the right time."
Chen Shuangbai lowered his eyes slightly and saw that the tea soup was emerald green and clear, emitting a faint orchid fragrance, which was indeed a good tea.
The two chatted for a while.
Chen Shuangbai was mostly asking questions, and Sun Heming was answering.
However, the latter answered very cautiously, clearly waiting for a disciple who could actually take charge to come and see him.
Therefore, Chen Shuangbai was not in a hurry and leisurely sipped her fragrant tea.
His leisurely demeanor only made him seem more mysterious to Sun Heming.
Sun Heming was at the Foundation Establishment stage and was over two hundred years old. He had reached the pinnacle of talent but had made no progress whatsoever in his life, so he could only come to this Guest Reception Hall to live out his remaining years.
The Nascent Soul True Lord before us is excessively young.
And at such a young age, with such Divine Ability, he calls himself an unknown Rogue Cultivator.
But whether this person came seeking revenge or repaying a debt of gratitude, it was beyond his control alone. Now, he could only hope that someone from the mountains would come soon to welcome this person in.
A gentle breeze blew through the mountains, rustling the branches of the trees outside the hall.
Sun Heming had already poured Chen Shuangbai three cups of spiritual tea, but still no one of importance had arrived from the mountains, and he felt a growing sense of pressure...
But he dared not ask, nor dared he think about it too much.
As the fifth cup of spiritual tea was being added...
Finally, colorful light fell outside the palace.
First, a burst of pale blue light descended, slowly spreading from outside the hall into the hall, reaching Chen Shuangbai's feet. Then, a series of clear and melodious tinkling sounds rang out, as if an invisible mountain spring was flowing through the hall.
The colorful light condensed three feet in front of Chen Shuangbai, transforming into a tall, slender figure.
The visitor was a woman.
The woman was dressed in a plain blue Daoist robe, her black hair tied up with a jade hairpin. Her face was beautiful and refined, with a gentle and scholarly air between her brows. Her eyes had a faint blue-gold hue, and there was a clear and bright flower ornament between her brows, making her look like a lotus flower in the water.
A powerful cultivator in the Nascent Soul Late Stage...
Chen Shuangbai's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately stood up, about to pay her respects. However, the Nascent Soul True Lord before her raised a hand to stop her, his eyes gradually brightening with azure-gold light. He spoke softly, his voice as melodious as the tinkling of a spring—
"May I ask, fellow Daoist, what practice do you cultivate?"