Before long, Tao Qian had received countless benefits again.
Clearly, the Devil Immortal Daoists who came here this time were even more powerful than the Ten Thousand Immortals Tao Qian had encountered in the Nine Prisons of Ghosts Wind, and they had a closer relationship with Duobao Daoist, which was why the gifts they gave were also of higher quality.
Tao Qian didn't bother to count his gifts, acting obediently as a gift-receiving machine, while paying respects to each of these fierce uncles and aunts from his Sect.
"It's really worthy of being the top Great Sect of the Daoist path. Although I'm only in the Foundation Establishment Realm right now, just with these gifts I've received, Cultivators in the Transcend Mortality Realm pose no threat to me... Hmm, perhaps not necessarily, what if there are disciples from Taishang Dao and Shenxiao Sect who have also found a powerful backer like me?"
"With the Twelve Major Daoist Sects, Buddhist Temples, Demon Sects, plus those ancient families, one must not slack off or be complacent. I still have many equals as opponents."
As Tao Qian was muttering to himself, his gaze suddenly locked with a dazzlingly beautiful female cultivator who resembled an immortal concubine.
Although they had only met briefly before, Tao Qian still recognized her.
This "Fairy Yunhua" was none other than a close friend of both Infant Sect Master Xiao and the Queen of Daughter Country, and she had been just short of becoming his Master. Inside his Mustard Seed Talisman Seed, he still kept the letters of introduction and personal tokens given by the two True Masters.
Due to twists of fate, the Master-disciple bond had not been established.
But Tao Qian still felt an inexplicable closeness to this fairy and was about to come forward to pay his respects.
Just then, Aunt Yunhua also smiled at him and with a flick in the Void, she took out a Token made of some unknown material. The Token turned into Spirit Light and flew into Tao Qian's palm.
At the same time, she spoke softly,
"Though we haven't formed a Master-disciple bond, our affection remains."
"Lady Mei and Dou Dou have both sent me letters praising you, especially Lady Mei whose life was saved by you. Both said they'll come to visit you in a few days."
"From now on, you can just call me 'Aunt Yunhua,' and remember to visit my Immortal Island often."
"You have already received plenty of Magical Treasures and Elixir, which should be enough for a long time, so I, as your Aunt, will give you a special gift."
"In the matter of Cultivation, one cannot lack spiritual wealth or a Cultivation Realm. You're not lacking in Talents, nor treasures, so I will make up for the land."
"If you go eight hundred miles to the left from your Big Brother's Daoist Field, there is an Immortal Island that has been abandoned for many years. That island was once where my first disciple resided, but after an accident, she died off-island, and it was closed."
"With this Token in hand, you can enter without hindrance."
"If you don't mind, that island is yours."
When Aunt Yunhua handed over the Token and said these words, it immediately drew sideways glances from all the seated Devil Immortal Daoists.
Then they all seemed to think of something, stifling their laughter and entering watch-the-drama mode.
Among them, a green-robed Aunt, with a Spiritual Treasure Immortal Ring hanging behind her head, named "Lue Immortal," explained to the puzzled Tao Qian,
"Our Spirit Treasure Sect may not have many formalities, but within this Mountain Gate, there are still some rules. For instance, the thousand Immortal Islands and dozens of Secret Realms in the Penglai Sea cannot be obtained at will."
"An Immortal Island is naturally of great value. Normally, only those who have obtained the position of True Inheritor are entitled to one, and even then, they only have usage rights for a few hundred years. If they haven't become an Elder when their time expires, they must surrender the island."
"The Immortal Island that Sister Yunhua wants to give you is a bit special since she has the authority to dispose of it and give it to whomever she likes."
"Of course, I also agree that you should take the island. Though you are not yet a True Inheritor, as the first disciple of the Big Brother, what's so difficult about obtaining the True Inheritor position? It's just an island, and there's nothing particularly unusual or valuable about it except for its size. It's nothing extraordinary, so just take it."
"Besides, Big Brother has his quirks. If you don't take that island, you may find yourself with nowhere to go..."
This Frank Fairy was cheerfully explaining when she was suddenly interrupted by Duobao Daoist.
Tao Qian looked over and indeed saw his Master looking embarrassed, as if harboring some unspeakable secret. With his copper bell-like eyes, he helplessly glared at Aunt Yunhua, who seemed to have succeeded in irritating him and snatching his favored disciple, and was now showing off a triumphant smile.
She was already a beauty that resembled an immortal concubine, and now with her smile, she was even more breathtakingly beautiful, easily outshining all the other flowers.
Duobao Daoist looked even more disheartened when he saw this, and could only look towards Tao Qian and say directly,
"I had planned to tell you this slippery thing later, but now is as good a time as any."
"Our Spirit Treasure Sect is not like some sects in the Cultivation World that divide themselves with inner and outer gates; generally speaking, whoever you take as your master, you follow and cultivate on that island, or in that secret realm."
"However, I am somewhat special. Other than myself, this Immortal Island cannot accommodate a second person's cultivation, not even Dou Dou, these little crystal demons, who I usually seal in the Star Membrane Secret Realm. Initially, I thought of letting you go to Bibo Island, Qingping Island, or some other Big Island, where all the wild-acquainted disciples are, along with some Devil Clan and Alien Species, and there are plenty of Spiritual Land Cave Mansions for you to choose from."
"Now that your Aunt Yunhua has made such a grand gesture, even gifting you that island, it indeed might be suitable."
"But think it over carefully for yourself, if you accept this meeting gift, although you can enjoy an Immortal Island all to yourself and the many benefits are self-explanatory,"
"you are after all not a True Disciple, and once this news gets out, it's bound to cause a lot of trouble. Those peers you have not yet met, I'm afraid quite a few will look at you unfavorably, taking the opportunity to seek trouble with you."
"Your talent and qualifications are decent, and you have overcome the Three Calamities, now having established your Dao Foundation, but your Cultivation Realm is at the bottom among your peers. If just anyone came to contest you, you might end up thoroughly defeated."
"Think about it, are you able to cope with this?"
"Do you dare to accept this meeting gift?"
After Duobao Daoist finished speaking, all eyes immediately turned to Tao Qian.
These Devil Immortals and Daoists, at the start, were holding back laughter, watching the competition between Duobao and Yunhua with a sense of entertainment.
Now, watching Tao Qian's choice, including the straightforward Lue Immortal, there suddenly appeared in their eyes a kind of scrutinizing look.
At this moment, Tao Qian held the token with an exceedingly subtle expression.
His attention was divided: on one hand, he was looking at the various Record information that had sprung up in his mind due to touching the token, and on the other, he was watching his own master and Yunhua Immortal's dispute.
On the surface, it seemed as if Yunhua Immortal couldn't bear that Duobao Daoist had cut in front of her to claim her disciple, so deliberately she used Duobao Daoist's "quirks" to sabotage and vent her spleen.
Yet Tao Qian was not foolish; how could he not see that there must be some secrets he was yet unaware of, which is why the scene seemed childishly staged.
As for what to choose?
Had it not been for Duobao Daoist's questioning and the Record information that had arisen in his mind,
Tao Qian might indeed have refused this meeting gift.
After all, he had just entered the Spirit Treasure Sect, and there was no need to make himself the target of public criticism and envy from many fellow disciples just for an island.
But now, the situation was different.
Tao Qian didn't mull it over for too long, soon after Duobao Daoist had finished asking, under the scrutinizing gaze of a host of Devil Immortals and Daoists.
Tao Qian directly tucked the token into his chest and then, looking at Fairy Yunhua and Duobao Daoist, he said aloud,
"The gift from Aunt Yunhua, I dare to accept."
"Although I was fortunate enough to be favored by my master and enter the Mountain Gate of Spirit Treasure Sect, I never expected from this point forward my Dao Path would be smooth and carefree."
"Having received this benefit, I naturally must bear its cost."
"I have weighed everything clearly, all these costs, I am willing to accept."
As Tao Qian uttered these sentences, immediately the many seats of honor filled with Devil Immortals and Daoists showed various expressions.
Only Duobao Daoist and Yunhua Immortal were at first stunned, then both showed extremely radiant smiles.
ps: The matter of the Three Calamities True Inheritance will be written about later, it's not a bug.