38: Chapter 22: The Celestial Descends [Second of Three Updates, Vote Please!] 38: Chapter 22: The Celestial Descends [Second of Three Updates, Vote Please!] Gongmin Chen chuckled and nodded before asking, “Ping’an, when do you plan to leave?”
“In the next couple of days.”
“If there is still fighting on the East Sea side, I’ll try to go around to the west.
Let Minister Weiyen take me, and I can return to the sect within a day.”
“Should I write you a reply?”
“Just write that the sect has received the letter and this disciple is outstanding, fit for outer sect cultivation.
The elders of the outer sect will probably fly over just to give me a beating!”
Unexpectedly, Li Ping’an seriously said, “I actually do need a letter from you, written just as you said.
There’s no need to mention that this disciple is outstanding.”
Master Chen was taken aback: “Those were just words in jest.”
Li Ping’an said earnestly: “We should be thorough in everything we do so as not to give others something to pick on.”
Master Chen was full of confusion: “Your father has already taken the sect’s Ancestor as his master, why do you need to be so cautious?”
“Being careful is always good.”
Li Ping’an said softly:
“My father is only about to ascend to immortality, not yet a Heavenly Immortal.
All the blessings we father and son have within the sect come from the Ancestor’s grace.
These are ultimately rootless and cannot last long.”
“In other words, my father gained his position by being a disciple of the master.
Should he lose favor one day, there will surely be those envious of him ready to settle the score with us.”
“Therefore, in all matters, staying above reproach will mean fewer worries for the future.”
“Only if my father rises rapidly, breaks through to True Immortal, and contends with Heavenly Immortals, will we father and son be able to stand firm in the sect.”
“I’ve always wanted to find a Heavenly Immortal or True Immortal within the sect to take as my master, also because of this consideration.”
Gongmin Chen pondered for a moment and then slowly nodded: “Your considerations are correct.
Your father and you have too shallow a foundation.
Should you say something to displease the Ancestor, your fortunes could change in an instant…
I’ll go and write you a reply right now!”
“Thank you, Master Chen.”
“Ah, we are now in the same sect, so in the future, if you call me Senior Brother, you’ll practically split my face with pride!”
Gongmin Chen waved his sleeve and hurried into the house.
Li Ping’an sat back in the bamboo chair, tore a piece of rabbit meat, sipped some Immortal wine, and continued to gaze out through the curtain of rain.
Shortly after, Master Chen tossed a Messaging Jade Talisman to Li Ping’an.
Just as Li Ping’an was about to express his gratitude, his Dao Heart suddenly felt an inexplicable tremor.
It was the kind of tremor that signified sudden danger.
Li Ping’an quickly reached into his chest and pulled the Storage Pouch containing the Wanyun Returning-to-Sect Command out from beneath his armor.
This pouch was vibrating violently, with golden stripes flashing on it, the symbols of prohibitions inscribed on a Magic Artifact.
These prohibitions seemed to be melting away rapidly!
Li Ping’an immediately threw the pouch into the air, protective lights shone around his body, and he instinctively pulled Gongmin Chen behind him as he swiftly retreated.
The pouch shattered, and the Jade Talisman shaped like a coin floated in mid-air, its light soaring straight into the sky!
Spiritual energy suddenly gathered, and a vortex emerged around the column of light, with streaks of lightning crisscrossing and flashing.
Li Ping’an and Gongmin Chen had already retreated out of the Daoist temple.
A cyan lightning bolt struck down from the center of the vortex, linking up with the floating Wanyun Returning-to-Sect Command, while a graceful figure fell straight down from behind the bolts of lightning!
All unusual phenomena dissipated quickly.
Li Ping’an and Gongmin Chen exchanged glances, and Gongmin Chen was about to rush to rescue her but was held back by Li Ping’an.
It’s an Immortal from our Wanyun Sect!
She also has a Returning-to-Sect Command!”
“Don’t go over there, the immortal power in her body might lose control at any moment…
Stop reading and come here!”
Li Ping’an turned and bellowed:
“Quick, come save her!”
Minister Weiyen’s silhouette sped from the back mountain; he hastily stowed away the album in his hands, his flushed face quickly returning to its normal color.
Inside Master Chen’s Daoist temple.
Li Ping’an frowned as he stood by the bed, surrounded by bottles and jars.
Minister Weiyen and Gongmin Chen were one setting up the formation outside, one standing behind with a concerned gaze.
A woman lay on the couch.
She appeared quite young, her cultivation seemed to be of a True Immortal, yet also seemed to exceed that…
For the current Li Ping’an, she was indeed too high-level to precisely determine.
Perhaps a half-step Heavenly Immortal?
The female Immortal’s face was deathly pale, her long hair that had originally been styled in a Serpent Bun had come loose, revealing several ghastly wounds on her somewhat thin figure.
Fortunately, Li Ping’an carried with him an ample supply of Immortal Pills, several of which even Heavenly Immortals could use for healing wounds; he had already administered several to the female Immortal.
To probe a True Immortal’s immortal body with a Ningguang Stage Spiritual Sense was simply asking for trouble.
Li Ping’an didn’t rashly attempt it; after administering the Elixir Pills, he just observed her expression and felt the changes in the aura around her.
The female Immortal’s eyebrows slightly knit together, and her chapped lips parted slightly.
Li Ping’an promptly said, “I am Li Ping’an, a disciple of Wanyun Sect, and a friend of Ningning Mu from the Qing Xu lineage.
Please rest assured in your recovery, senior.
You have used the Wanyun Return Command, and are now at the site of my Wanyun Return Command.”
The furrow in the female Immortal’s brow gradually smoothed out, presumably upon hearing a familiar name.
Gongmin Chen asked, “Ping’an?
Li Ping’an replied, “She should be a True Immortal from Caiyun Peak, with the Daoist name Qing Su.”
Actually, Li Ping’an only knew of Qing Su from Priest Sister Ningning, who had mentioned her mentor Qing Su as a mania for the Dao, cultivating the Pure Heart Dao with a lotus mark on her forehead, hailed as Caiyun Peak’s foremost Immortal in a millennium, with hopes of reaching the realm of Heavenly Immortal after just over three centuries of cultivation.
This female Immortal held a Wanyun Return Command, clearly a person valued by the sect; her cultivation fit the bill, and the purity of her Dao Charm matched the characteristics of the Pure Heart Dao…
His guess was probably not far off.
Minister Weiyen, after finishing setting up the formation, hurried over: “Ping’an!
For hundreds of miles around there’s nothing unusual!
Li Ping’an said, “Minister, could you please examine this Immortal’s injuries?”
Minister Weiyen approached the female Immortal and pointed at her from a distance, and then sharply inhaled a gasp of cold air.
“Her Primordial Spirit is nearly dissipated, her immortal body has dozens of injuries, these wounds are serious…
“Yet she must have used some Secret Technique or a rare treasure; there’s an extraordinary immortal power in her Primordial Spirit, just managing to hold it together at the brink of collapse.
“Her physical injuries can be treated with Elixir Pills, the main problem now is with her Primordial Spirit; if her willpower is not strong enough, complications could easily arise.”
Gongmin Chen asked, “Should I go and report to the sect?”
“No, Master, you must not.”
Li Ping’an’s brow knitted slightly:
“This is a bit strange, the Wanyun Return Command should have sent the user back to the sect, so how did it find me here?”
Minister Weiyen said, “You mention it, that’s indeed true, unless, the path back to the sect was blocked by someone’s magic.”
The female Immortal slightly opened her mouth, speaking in an extremely weak voice:
The three Daoists exchanged glances.
Gongmin Chen said in a low voice, “If we encounter a sect member in danger and do not help, how can we be at peace with our Daoist hearts?”
Minister Weiyen’s eyes shone brightly: “If we can escort her back to the sect, that would be a great accomplishment.”
Li Ping’an had already taken out a map he scavenged from the sect, spreading it out to carefully examine it, trying to work out several emergency escape routes.