Deeper Meaning

Hua Chunning was shocked, but she tried her best to remain calm and said softly, "Senior Xue has discerning eyes. I am of ordinary talent and originally had no hope for the Dao Path cultivation. I never expected that my master would not despise my stupidity and would take me into Supreme Mystery Mountain. My senior brother has also been very kind to me."

The matter of the Grotto-Heaven involves the sect's top secrets, so naturally it cannot be revealed.

Hua Chunning could only attribute her fortuitous opportunity to enter the Dao to the auspicious influence of the Supreme Mystery Mountain Immortal Manifestation and the assistance of Li Chengxuan and Liu Zhijian.

In particular, Liu Zhijian's address of "Junior Sister" at the Supreme Mystery Mountain was a Fate, as it actually completed his Manifestation.

"Such a mysterious fortuitous opportunity!" Xue Yang exclaimed in amazement, marveling at the intensity of Liu Zhijian's [Kan Water] Manifestation and the weight of his Fate. Then, he smiled meaningfully, "But is it really that simple for you to replenish your Manifestation Fate?! I doubt it!"

Hua Chunning's heart sank, she lowered her head and remained silent, overwhelmed by boundless fear.

Could it be that I inadvertently revealed a secret, allowing Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain to uncover the sect's hidden secrets?

Xue Yang's visit this time is clearly ill-intentioned!

Li Chengxuan remained silent for a moment, then frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist Xue, if you have any guidance, please speak frankly. My unworthy disciple has fortunately accumulated enough Manifestation and is on the verge of entering the Dao. I am overjoyed and cannot bear to be teased by you."

"How dare I, Xue, mock the disciples of Supreme Mystery Mountain?!" Xue Yang laughed heartily, his attitude quite friendly and casual, and said in a low voice, "I suspect that the recent changes in the Southern Edge Continent are probably all related to that unspeakable event... Even the rays of light on Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain have become incredibly lively, as if they were alive!"

"The fact that my junior brother Hua can supplement the Manifestation and Fate is probably a subtle manifestation of the aftereffects of that major event!"

Hua Chunning was momentarily bewildered, completely unable to understand what Xue Yang was saying.

Li Chengxuan's heart stirred, and he nodded in sudden realization.

An unspeakable event... There is clearly only one thing: the great one who has protected Southern Edge Continent for a thousand years has fallen!

Li Chengxuan glanced at Xue Yang and tentatively asked, "Fellow Daoist Xue, are you saying that this is... a whale fall, and all things come to life?!"

Xue Yang secretly praised Li Chengxuan for his quick understanding, gave Li Chengxuan a solemn look, and nodded emphatically.

Li Chengxuan waved Hua Chunning away and said earnestly, "Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain has been very kind to Supreme Mystery Mountain, and you have been very hospitable. If you could offer some guidance this time, Supreme Mystery Mountain would be eternally grateful."

Xue Yang had been playing coy for a long time, and was very satisfied when Li Chengxuan finally realized his mistake and expressed his opinion.

The patriarch's order to befriend Supreme Mystery Mountain caused Xue Yang a long-standing headache.

Supreme Mystery Mountain is also an ancient Daoist lineage that has attracted the attention of adults, so it won't be easy to build a closer relationship.

Sending you some Cultivation Method and Daoist scriptures?!

We already gave quite a lot last time, including the clan's most precious [Rainbow Rosy Clouds] Cultivation Method. We really have nothing more to give.

How about sending some Spirit Stone and pills?

There are very few cultivators on Supreme Mystery Mountain, so they probably don't lack Spirit Stone and pills.

As for Law Artifact and secret treasures, those are even less acceptable.

The inferior ones are not presentable.

A truly capable person wouldn't just give it away for free; they'd definitely keep it for themselves.

After much thought, I can only reveal some top-secret information that only Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain can obtain. This is the most suitable gift at the moment, as it is both beneficial and cost-effective.

Xue Yang lowered his voice and whispered, "The few wisps of spiritual light Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain have an extraordinary origin, but they looked quite ordinary in the past, without any remarkable features."

"Recently, however, it has become increasingly agile, almost like a living creature, and has even gained the ability to transform into birds and beasts."

"The ancestor speculated that this signifies a change in the heavens and earth of the Southern Edge Continent, and that ancient lineages like Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain and Supreme Mystery Mountain are likely about to experience a revival of their fortunes!"

Upon hearing this, Li Chengxuan immediately became solemn.

This is a big deal!

In the past, the Old Method of cultivation were difficult, and even the most outstanding individuals and the most favored children of heaven found it hard to progress.

If the Old Method and methods truly experience a revival, it would be an unprecedented opportunity for spiritual practice.

Seeing the change in Li Chengxuan's expression, Xue Yang continued, "So, Fellow Daoist Li, don't blame me for not reminding you."

"If you still care about your Dao Path, then seize the opportunity to go into seclusion and cultivate, and try to break through."

"If you want to strengthen your sect, send people down the mountain as soon as possible to search for some Child of Fate and bring them back."

"This unprecedented fortuitous opportunity, though only just beginning to unfold, remains to be seen how long it will last, whether it will be a fleeting moment, and whether a powerful figure will seize it."

Li Chengxuan nodded and solemnly said, "Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Xue!"

After thinking it over, Xue Yang's overtures were so obvious that he felt he had to reciprocate in kind.

However, Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain is the leader of the Old Method in the Southern Edge Continent, so any gift I give would seem somewhat inadequate.

Li Chengxuan's mind raced, and he said, "There's something I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Xue for help with. Would that be convenient?"

Xue Yang was pleasantly surprised and secretly praised Li Chengxuan for being so tactful, clearly intending to owe him a favor. He smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, please speak freely! As long as it's within my power, I will not refuse!"

Li Chengxuan glanced at Hua Chunning, sighed, and explained the whole story, "To be honest, my disciple 'Dao Path has been fraught with difficulties. He finally managed to replenish his Manifestation Fate, but now he's stuck on Qi Gathering."

"I chose [Fragrance of a Hundred Flowers] for her; it's not Higher Vehicle, but it's sufficient."

"The Hua Household has been in decline for a long time and can only cultivate some common flowers, which are of little use."

"As his teacher, I am willing but powerless to help in any way."

"I've long heard of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain, the foremost sacred mountain and blessed land in the Southern Reach, with countless rare and exotic flowers and plants."

"I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Xue to take her to Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain to gather some spiritual flower fragrances; perhaps it will raise her cultivation ceiling a bit."

Xue Yang understood immediately and nodded in agreement.

Although Li Chengxuan was young, he was very experienced in his work and his words and actions were extremely measured.

This matter concerns the disciple's Dao Path, and this favor is indeed substantial, yet it happens to be within my capabilities.

In terms of sheer abundance of spiritual energy, Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain is second to none in the Southern Edge Continent. It can even nurture spiritual energy, let alone spiritual flowers.

Not to mention, there's also the [Wu Earth Secret Realm] on the mountain.

[Wu Earth] represents the central earth element, which excels at regulating the earth's energy, harmonizing wood, fire, metal, and water elements, and balancing yin and yang.

Therefore, many Spirit Plant have been cultivated in the [Wu Earth Secret Realm].

However, this female disciple only gathers the Fragrance of a Hundred Flowers, so it doesn't cause her any harm.

Even setting aside the ancestor, it's unlikely that the rigid and xenophobic uncles in the clan would object to using some useless floral fragrance to gain a favor from the head of Supreme Mystery Mountain.

After giving Hua Chunning a few private words of advice, Li Chengxuan saw Xue Yang and Hua Chunning off. He then returned to the Ancestral Master Hall and lit three sticks of incense for the portrait of the Ancestral Master.

Looking up, I saw that it was indeed a secret passage.

On the blank portrait that originally had only a faint watermark, there were now some blurry ink marks, and one could vaguely make out a human figure.

Li Chengxuan guessed that the time when he entered the Qi Ingestion and obtained such a great fortuitous opportunity as the [Two Worlds Pearl] was probably around the time that great man perished.

He then easily broke through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

Liu Zhijian completed the Qi Gathering and Qi Ingestion in one smooth motion.

Hua Chunning has completed the Manifestation Fate, and is only one step away from Qi Gathering.

All these smooth sailing events even made Li Chengxuan worried, and he thought about how to cover it up.

Unexpectedly, Xue Yang provided the perfect excuse.

Even later, when Duanmu Ren began practicing [High Shaman], he no longer needed to hide.

Moreover, Li Chengxuan could clearly sense a deeper meaning in Xue Yang's words.

However, when it came to adults, even fallen adults, Xue Yang was very hesitant to speak openly about it.

"With the passing of that great man, the Old Method and doctrines began to revive."

"Naturally, we can be grateful and believe that the great man was of high moral character and virtue, and that after his fall, he returned to Heaven to bless the Old Method cultivators of the Southern Reach."

"But if we look at it from a darker perspective, over the past thousand years, was that great man protecting the Old Method, or was he imprisoning various sects and intercepting their fortunes?!"

"The revival of Old Method might simply be the return of the lost fortune of various sects, now freed from its constraints!"