Chapter 1066: Grand Welcome
The various worlds were all special in their own ways. The passageways that connected to the Greater World were also very different.
For example, the Middle World that the Hall of the Dead was situated in had a passageway that only connected to the Void Battleground.
Whereas the passageway that connected the Ancient Longevity World and Greater World was a little special too. It was a passageway that had an opening that could be controlled to open or seal shut, just like the gates to the Starry Sea that Lin Feng possessed. However, while the opening could be opened or sealed, the position of the opening did change.
The opening or closing of the opening was controlled by the Gu Family.
Thus, it was very difficult for anyone outside to enter the Ancient Longevity World. Although it was not as secretive as the Middle World of the Hall of the Dead, it was almost cut off from the world. Besides a select few, very little people knew how to proceed towards the Ancient Longevity World. Most people didn't even know the existence of this Middle World.
To the maintain secrecy of the world, the Emperor Gu lineage rarely opened the passageway and moved in and out of the Greater World. After all, their statuses were special. Every time someone entered the Greater World, it would draw the attention of others from the Greater World.
Thus, if it wasn't necessary, the Ancient Longevity World would be sealed. For the Advanced Aurous Core cultivators from the Gu Family that wanted to overcome the Void Lightning Tribulations, most of them would choose the more perilous Void Battleground to do so instead.
When Xiao Yan went to the Ancient Longevity World for the first time, Xiao Zhener was the one who guided him. They took advantage of an occasion that the opening was opened to 'sneak' into the Ancient Longevity World along with help from the inside.
And when Lin Feng went to find Xiao Yan initially, he tapped on the tracker that he left on Xiao Yan. After that, he used the powers of the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree to transcend void space and rushed over.
But things changed quickly. Since the battle of Xiling City, the Celestial Sect of Wonders and Ancient Longevity World had frequent interactions. This made it easier for Lin Feng to travel between both places.
When Xiao Yan went to the Ancient Longevity World, he would notify the Gu Family beforehand. After that, they would allow him in to the Ancient Longevity World.
This was the case for Lin Feng and his disciples as they went this time. They proceeded down south and met up with Yang Qing, before arriving at the Southern Wilderness.
Over these years, Yang Qing had been treating people from all over the world. All his time was spent on picking medicinal herbs. Without the Heavenly Cosmic Ray World, he did not have much time to cultivate. Thus, his current cultivation was lagging very much now. Not only was he overtaken by Luo Qingwu and Li Yuanfang, he was even being chased by his own disciple, Zhou Yuncong.
But Yang Qing was no longer worried about his slow progress just like before. He did not panic and remained calm.
As he travelled around treating people, he would also try to figure out different moves and polish up his powers. As he exercised his mind, he earned a lot of inspiration in his mind.
As his desire was fulfilled, he became much clearer as a person. This allowed him to become more sensitive to the Heavens and Earth too. He met with different opportunities as he toured the world, enabling him to reap countless benefits.
Right now, Yang Qing was only lacking in the practical skills consolidated from the rewards he reaped.
Recently, Yang Qing had only returned to Mount Yujing once. He felt that his own accumulation was sufficient and that it was time for him to organize himself. Thus, he spent some time in the Heavenly Cosmic Ray World. Under a condition where time was sped up by a hundred times, he managed to rise to the Intermediate Nascent Soul Stage.
But after this, Yang Qing left the mountain again and continued with what he was doing earlier. He was still in the Intermediate Nascent Soul Stage now.
But as Lin Feng, Xiao Yan and the rest saw the look in his eyes, they knew that his accumulation was extremely immense now. He was only a little off from another major improvement again.
"Fifth Junior, long time no see." Xiao Yan laughed as he said. Yang Qing also smiled, "That's right, I didn't think that the next time we meet, we'll actually be going to help you propose marriage."
Xiao Yan replied, "Oh right, there's someone you should meet." He shrugged his sleeves and a human figure flew in front of Yang Qing. It was a youth who looked charming and behaved gently.
This youth's temperament and state of mind seemed similar to Yang Qing. He was respectful and gave a warm feeling to others.
As Yang Qing saw him, he laughed, "Is this Duan Mu? You are all grown up."
As that youth saw Yang Qing, he was a little agitated and his eyes even turned red. He bowed towards Yang Qing seriously, "Duan Muhong greets Fifth Junior Granduncle."
He was an infant that Yang Qing found near a spiritual spring called Luo Hong after the Anti-Celestial War. He only had a piece of jade near him, which was engraved with the words "Duan Mu". Thus, Yang Qing gave him the name, Duan Muhong.
At that point in time, Duan Muhong was gravely ill and was on the brink of death. Yang Qing took good care of him along the way and helped him to regain his health. Once, when he returned to Mount Yujing, he brought Duan Muhong along too. When Duan Muhong grew older, he passed the test to enter the sect and became a Foundational Disciple.
When Duan Muhong was younger, he had already developed an interest in medicine and pill cultivation. When he was only a Foundational Disciple, he even once followed Yang Qing for a period of time as Yang Qing went around treating people. He also went for a period of study in the Mirror Lake Knowledge Palace that Zhu Yi set up.
Yang Qing was not only a benefactor to him, but also someone that he respected very much. However, Yang Qing was always not around on the mountain and did not accept any more disciples. Whereas Zhou Yuncong was not gifted in medicine or pill cultivation, thus Duan Muhong went into the Inferno Precipice after he passed the Successive Disciple test.
He was now the Immediate Disciple of Tang Jun. Although he was only in the Foundation Establishment Stage, his standard of pill cultivation was already very high. Furthermore, his cultivation talent was also very great. Among the third-generation disciples in the Inferno Precipice, he was quite outstanding and highly rated.
Xiao Yan and Tang Jun also held hopes for this young disciple who was talented and hardworking. At times, Xiao Yan would even guide him on the cultivation of pills.
As Yang Qing looked at Duan Muhong all grown up and who possessed great potential, he was greatly comforted.
Lin Feng smiled as he saw the both of them catching up with each other. But at this point, he felt something and looked up into the sky faraway.
He sat cross-legged on the Lu Yuan Grand Sage's head. On the other side of the shoulder of the Lu Yuan Grand Sage, Zhu Yi's attention was also drawn to the similar direction.
On another side, Xiao Yan sat on the Distant Star White Tiger's back and he also looked in the same direction.
Over there, void space cracked open and three figures appeared. The leader was one who was very tall and had a thin face. He also resembled a middle-aged man. Beside him on both sides, there were two other guys.
The three of them seemed very righteous. They also appeared to be very prepared and they invoked a sense of respect of others towards them.
The leading middle-aged man was in the Immortal Soul Third Level, whereas the two others beside him were also in the Immortal Soul Second Level.
One of them was a familiar face. During the Anti-Celestial Sect War, he once assisted the Celestial Sect of Wonders with Xiao Zhener. He was Gu Peng.
All these years, as Xiao Yan went to the Ancient Longevity World, he was also the one who received Xiao Yan.
And the middle-aged man was also recognized by Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan used his powers to communicate with Lin Feng, "Master, this is Zhener's uncle. He's called Gu Cheng. We called him Uncle Cheng."
After pausing for a moment, Xiao Yan continued saying, "Among the Gu Family, he is more inclined towards our sect."
Lin Feng, Zhu Yi and Li Yuanfang knew what to do as they heard him.
Within the Gu Family, there existed conflicting stands with regards to the Celestial Sect of Wonders and the Great Void Sect.
Among the three top cultivators in the Gu Family, Xiao Zhener's father, Gu Jun, who was also the current Emperor Gu, was in the Cardinal Tribulations Beginning Stage and was also the most powerful cultivator in the Gu Family. He did not express his own stand, but he did approve of Xiao Yan dating Xiao Zhener. This should also be considered as his inclination.
The other two powerful cultivators were in the Immortal Soul Third Level. Gu Cheng preferred the Celestial Sect of Wonders, whereas the other one, who was called Gu Yuankai, preferred the Great Void Sect.
What was worth mentioning was that the Gu Family had two Mahayana level magic treasures. One did not express his stand, while the other agreed with Gu Yuankai. It believed that the Great Void Sect would fare better in the long-run.
As Gu Cheng and the others saw Lin Feng, they welcomed him, "Lin Feng, we've been waiting."
His attention was drawn to the Lu Yuan Grand Sage and Distant Star White Tiger. Although his expression did not change, he was shocked.
"This white tiger seems to be...pure-blooded?" Gu Cheng and the others were perplexed. They had not seen a pure-blooded white tiger before, but they could feel the vibration of demonic powers of the Distant Star White Tiger, thus they could not help but doubt whether it was a true pure-blooded white tiger or not. After all, the gap between a pure-blooded white tiger and a mixed-blood white tiger was very huge.
If there was doubt over the authenticity of the Distant Star White Tiger, there was certainly no doubt about the Lu Yuan Grand Sage.
"This must be the Lu Yuan that you captured in the Barren Expanses. I heard that's very powerful and it seems like that's true."
Although the Lu Yuan Grand Sage did not reveal his demonic aura, Gu Cheng did not dare to underestimate him.
This demon seemed harmless, but it was because he was instructed by Lin Feng to retract his demonic aura. Otherwise, if he exhibited it, he would bring about immense pressure to Gu Cheng and the rest.
To have the Lu Yuan Grand Sage as his 'sedan', Lin Feng appeared to be very impressive indeed. But Lin Feng had no intention of stamping his authority on Gu Cheng and the rest. With Lin Feng's current status, he did not need to do so. Furthermore, the few of them were members of the Gu Family that were inclined towards the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
As Gu Cheng and the others saw this scene, they nodded in their hearts, "It's not easy to make such a powerful demon submit."
Lin Feng smiled and said, "Thanks to all of you for welcoming us."
For an Immortal Soul Third Level cultivator and two Immortal Soul Second Level cultivators to leave the Ancient Longevity World to welcome them, this was indeed a grand welcome.
Xiao Yan, Zhu Yi, Yang Qing and Li Yuanfang all paid their greetings. Gu Cheng laughed and said, "You and your disciples are too kind. It's only right for us to welcome all of you."
He pointed and said, "Please follow me."
The bunch of them continued down south and very soon, they saw a huge opening of a passageway. Xiao Yan had come to this place more than once, thus he made a brief introduction to his Master and juniors. As the few of them saw the position of the opening of the passageway, they knew that it led to the Ancient Longevity World.
After passing through the passageway, it was clear that there was a vast world in the distance.