229: Chapter 89 Traveling with the Master 229: Chapter 89 Traveling with the Master Last time on our tale:
Dazhi borrowed widespread fortune, with Ping’an and Qing Su yearning to journey west.
Compared to the Northern Continent, shrouded in miasma, the southeastern part of the Western Continent wasn’t such a difficult and perilous place.
Moreover, with a Heavenly Immortal personally guarding and carrying the Wanyun Sect Return Orders, safety was reasonably assured.
However, Li Ping’an was concerned about the ‘Enlightenment Stone’ reputation his father had hyped up and truly dared not publicize this affair.
He rode the clouds to the Daozang Hall to return the box of demon cores and told the Daozang Hall elder that he might come to the hall in the future to contemplate.
Li Ping’an’s borrowing of the demon cores was originally an order from the ancestral master Kongming, so the Daozang Hall elder readily agreed.
Subsequently, Li Ping’an went to the Mundane Affairs Hall and sought out the elder he knew best—Yansheng.
When Li Ping’an arrived, Elder Yansheng was in the midst of worry.
That disciple named Li Jing was as stubborn as an ox!
How could Elder Yansheng refuse to take a disciple when Uncle Dazhi had asked?
Especially since Dazhi had specifically instructed not to let Vice Sect Leader Moyi and those other elders take him away.
Did Elder Yansheng not understand what that meant?
And this Li Jing, didn’t he also bear the surname Li?
Elder Yansheng calculated the ages of this Li Jing and Li Ping’an and thought about the common practice of men marrying at the age of twenty…
The old Immortal had roughly understood.
Elder Yansheng had visited Flowing Cloud Observatory half an hour before, and although the visit couldn’t be said to be fruitless, it certainly left him with a face of dust and ash.
“Even if the Immortals were to kill Li Jing, his heart is set, and he only wishes to become a disciple of the gracious Lord Ping’an!”
The old steward of the Flowing Cloud Observatory was nearly angered to vomiting blood by this Li Jing.
Having no other choice, Elder Yansheng instructed the steward to move Li Jing to the small courtyard where Li Ping’an had originally lived and left behind a Jade Talisman, having effectively reserved the disciple.
So when Li Ping’an appeared, Elder Yansheng’s first reaction was to pull Li Ping’an into a corner, form an Immortal power barrier, and frown as he said,
“Ping’an, this matter is a bit troublesome.”
Li Ping’an was stunned, “Elder knows why I’ve come?”
“Indeed,” Elder Yansheng took a puff from his dry pipe and sighed, “The main issue is, we can’t go against a person’s wishes, forcibly taking a disciple is always unsightly.
I don’t really care about my old face, but I’m afraid of what rumors might spread.”
Several question marks appeared over Li Ping’an’s head.
“Elder, I came to borrow two Wanyun Sect Return Orders.
I wish to venture out with my master for experience.”
Elder Yansheng’s response was quite prompt, and he laughed, “Yes, that’s the matter that’s somewhat troublesome.”
Li Ping’an laughed, “Did my father ask you to take that young man named Li Jing as a disciple?”
“Correct,” Elder Yansheng sighed, “Even though that young man is still being stubborn, don’t worry, this poor Daoist has a way to let him willingly become a disciple…
Where do you and Qing Su plan to go for your cultivation experience?”
“The southeastern region of the Western Continent.”
“Does Great Master Dazhi know about this?”
“Please inform my father after I depart,” Li Ping’an said with a smile, changing the subject, “Earlier, a patrolling disciple visited me mentioning the matter of Immortal Duer from Kunlun Mountain, was he sent by you, Elder?”
Elder Yansheng laughed, “Indeed, I don’t know why your father suddenly asked about Immortal Duer.”
“It was I who asked my father to inquire,” Li Ping’an asked, “Does Immortal Duer have any connections with our Wanyun Sect?”
Elder Yansheng laughed and said:
“Kunlun Mountain is a holy cultivation site, not only home to the Chan Teaching Yu Xu Palace of East Kunlun, but also the blessed land of Tianchi in West Kunlun.
“The Tianchi blessed land is divided into internal and external areas, with the internal part being the Kunlun Secret Realm, where Queen Mother resides, a Great Power from the Ancient Heavenly Court and a former minister.
Often, the Qi Cultivators of the Human Race mistakenly believe Queen Mother to be the consort of the Ancient Demon Emperor, which isn’t the case.
“Queen Mother is a Primordial Being who has been cultivating on Kunlun Mountain for a long time.
When the Hundred Clans had not yet fallen, she bestowed many favors upon them, and when the Hundred Clans established the Heavenly Court, she was a major supporter.
“Hence, Emperor Jun, the Demon Emperor, shows her great respect, with his consorts being the goddesses Xihe and Wangshu of the sun and moon.
“During the most perilous times for our Human Race, it was Queen Mother who stepped in to preserve a lineage for our race, and during the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Queen Mother often sent treasures to resolve crises, the most famous story being that of the Mystical Lady of the Nine Heavens descending to the mortal realm to assist our Human Race’s Xuanyuan Huangdi in battling the remnants of the Hundred Clans.”
Li Ping’an nodded slowly.
This world was indeed fascinating; even without a Heavenly Court, there were still Queen Mother and the Mystical Lady of the Nine Heavens.
As recorded in ancient human tomes, Queen Mother, also just called the Queen Mother, was known as such because she cultivated in West Kunlun.
However, why was Elder Yansheng explaining so much about Kunlun Mountain and Queen Mother just because he inquired about Immortal Duer…
Elder Yansheng finally returned to the point: “Thus, the Qi Cultivators of the Human Race have always held a reverence for Kunlun Mountain.
After the ancient era drew to a close, not only did a great many Golden Immortals flock to the East Continent to establish sects, but also numerous Golden Immortals went to the blessed land of Kunlun to cultivate.
Immortal Duer must be one of them.”
“Is Immortal Duer a member of the Human Race?”
“It should be,” Elder Yansheng laughed, “There are many human hermits on Kunlun with a few members of the Hundred Clans who never opposed the Human Race.
If you wish to travel to Kunlun Mountain, there’s no need to worry about your safety.”
Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.
Li Ping’an indeed wished to visit.
But that would have to be after he became an Immortal; he couldn’t go and embarrass his teacher Yun Zhongzi.
Li Ping’an looked enlightened and thanked Elder Yansheng with a bow.
After rummaging through his sleeve, Elder Yansheng produced three unused Wanyun Sect Return Orders and handed them to Li Ping’an.
He said, “This matter must not be spoken of to others.
Qing Su has become a Heavenly Immortal; by rules, she shouldn’t need a Wanyun Sect Return Order, but considering you’re going to the Western Continent to kill demons and protect the Human Race, an exception will be made this time.”