Chapter 141: The Descent of Immortals

As the-Cloud-Firmament Abode officially opened, the very first person to arrive was Jingxuan. He had originally been in the Southern Frontier alongside several companions, searching for the "Azure Cloud Bright-Light Subduing-Demon Banner" that had been incinerated by the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect.

Previously, four of the nine subduing-demon banners within the Spirit-Bright Immortal Abode had been seized by the demonic faction and destroyed across the four cardinal directions. Consequently, various sects of the Profound Gate initiated actions with the intent of recovering the subduing-demon banners to better cope with the impending immortal-demonic tribulation.

Jingxuan and his companions had been searching in the Southern Frontier. Now, having successfully accomplished their mission and retired with honor, they came to the Cloud-Firmament Immortal Abode to visit their good friend, Qinghong.

However, upon arriving at the previously designated location of the immortal abodes, he only saw a young maiden in a verdant skirt manipulating eight golden dragons as she fought against several demonic cultivators.

The group stirred up mist in the sky, churning the cosmos, making it difficult to distinguish victory from defeat for a moment.

Jingxuan paused, observing in secret: "Judging by the aura of wood-spirit crowning this maiden's head, she must be a flora and fauna sprite? Yet she harbors hidden immortal light of yin and yang; surely this relates to Junior Brother Qinghong?"

With that, Jingxuan flicked the Azure Cloud Subduing-Demon Banner, and lotuses of immortal light filled the sky. He then urged the Nine-Miasma Precious Sword to charge into battle. "Fellow Daoist, I have come to assist you!"

He revealed his identity, prompting Muxuan to relax her defenses just enough while maintaining a trace of caution. Jingxuan unleashed several rapid sword strikes, employing the Taiqing Sword Qi to wound the demonic cultivators.

Seizing the opportunity, Muxuan used the Immortal-Binding Cord to capture them.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist." Remembering Ji Feichen's instructions, Muxuan knew that the immortals visiting during this period were connected to Ji Feichen. She hurried to bow stiffly and formally according to etiquette. However, having studied etiquette only recently, her movements appeared quite comical.

Jingxuan smiled and said, "There is no need for such formality. Judging by your methods, little sister, do you know Junior Brother Qinghong?"

"He is my Senior Brother." Maintaining her poise and grasping the string of captive demonic cultivators, Muxuan invited Jingxuan into the immortal abode.

No sooner had he entered the abode than Ji Feichen sensed his arrival and stepped out to welcome him in the guise of Qinghong.

"Senior Brother has arrived so early. I originally expected you to make it on the actual day."

"Haha... I happened to be operating in the Southern Frontier during this period, which is why I arrived earlier than the rest of the fellow Daoists." Jingxuan presented the congratulatory gift he had prepared in advance to Qinghong.

Upon unveiling the item, a crimson glow permeated a radius of three zhang.

Looking closely, Qinghong recognized it as a Fire-Cloud Ganoderma of three thousand years of maturity, and exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Brother, you are truly generous."

"It is not that I am generous, but rather that I happened to acquire one on this trip. That day, I thought of finding a treasure to present to Junior Brother as an opening gift for your abode. Suddenly, I saw crimson clouds rising to the heavens and auspicious rainbow light blooming, leading me straight to this item. I suppose this object is fated to belong to Junior Brother." Jingxuan maintained his effortless, immortal demeanor. To him, magical treasures were not a matter of mere accumulation, nor were heavenly materials and earthly treasures absolute necessities. Such external items were only used when needed, and one need not force their acquisition in daily life.

"Senior Brother certainly has a way with words." Qinghong held the Fire-Cloud Ganoderma. Atop its crimson cap sat three thousand-year-old pearls, each possessing the miraculous properties of prolonging life and preserving youth indefinitely.

Qinghong summoned the Crimson-Peach Boy: "Take this Fire-Cloud Ganoderma and place it in the flower bed, then go pick some fruits to entertain Senior Brother."

Turning to Muxuan, he instructed, "Junior Sister, lock away these demonic cultivators first. Later, when Fellow Daoist Qinwu arrives, have him take them to the Demon-Suppressing Pagoda."

With that, Ji Feichen invited Jingxuan into the Moon-Sun Courtyard.

However, the Moon-Sun Courtyard at this moment had undergone slight modifications.

Originally, the couplet hanging in the Moon-Sun Courtyard read: "The flying moon sets past the western hills, the morning sun illuminates the nine firmaments." The characters "Fei Chen" (flying morning) corresponded to Ji Feichen's given name, while "Yue Yang" (moon-sun) subtly matched the courtyard's name. Consequently, Ji Feichen had deemed this place destined for him, making it his personal residence. Even after taking charge of the entire immortal abode, he had not relocated elsewhere.

Yet now, the characters "Fei Chen" could naturally not be used carelessly. Otherwise, others might deduce his connection to Ji Feichen.

Given Ji Feichen's cautious nature, he would never leave such an obvious handle for others to grasp. Therefore, he had slightly altered the couplet, replacing "Morning Sun" with "Vast Sun" (Hong Yang).

Should anyone ask about it later, he would falsely claim his true name was "Ji Feihong," making him the older brother of "Ji Feichen."

Jingxuan, however, was not one for meticulous scrutiny. He merely glanced briefly at the couplet by the entrance, failed to perceive any deeper meaning, and followed Qinghong directly into the Moon-Sun Courtyard.

Noticing ancient vines and crimson flowers creeping along the walls, alongside spiritual pillars and celestial peaches growing luxuriantly in the corners, he remarked, "Junior Brother's quarters are truly serene and secluded. Sitting here with two volumes of the *Daoist Classics* while sipping a cup of green tea possesses a distinct elegance."

"With my lazy disposition, Junior Brother can only pass the time in such a manner." Qinghong invited Jingxuan into the main dwelling, where half a volume of the *Supreme Scripture* lay resting upon the Biyou Bed.

Jingxuan understood inwardly: Junior Brother is truly a seed of Dao nature; no doubt he was reading in his room just now?

Noticing Jingxuan catching sight of the half-open Daoist text, Qinghong smiled inwardly: I was actually refining the Nine-Clouds Soul-Departing Talisman just moments ago. But anticipating the arrival of you immortals, deliberately opening a book will surely pass as a convincing facade.

This fellow possessed a deep and unfathomable mind; every action of his carried profound implications, leaving others to let their imaginations wander.

Inviting Jingxuan to be seated, the nearby Green-Bamboo Boy served spiritual tea.

Jingxuan took a small sip and continued, "I noticed demonic cultivators making trouble at Junior Brother's entrance earlier. Were they people from the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect?"

The real play was about to begin! Qinghong felt a slight jolt within, yet deliberately complained on the surface, "Indeed. These past few days, the immortal abode has known no peace. Demonic beings come to harass us constantly, making it impossible for me to even read my books in peace."

Holding his teacup, Jingxuan chuckled lightly, "I caught wind of this matter before coming here. Not long ago while searching for the subduing-demon banner in the Southern Frontier, I heard that the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect intends to secure an immortal abode at the gateway of the Southern Frontier to use as a springboard for entering the Central Plains. I never imagined it would turn out to be Junior Brother's place."

The Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect was the nominal master of the Southern Frontier. Among the three paths of the Demonic Sect, the Black Sage Sect inclined toward the deep Southern Frontier, taking scattered tribes as its foundation and using uncultivated barbarian tribes to sustain and blood-sacrifice themselves. Although the Underworld Sect also had mortal outposts scattered across thousands of miles, they cared little for such matters; after all, their Black-Gold Mountain could move back and forth, rendering mortal foundations unworthy of their notice.

Only the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect had rooted itself in the Southern Frontier since ancient times, manipulating the local barbarians to launch wave after wave of attacks against the Central Plains. True to their tyrannical style, they naturally would not allow the Cloud-Firmament Immortal Abode to take root smoothly. This was precisely why Ji Feichen intended to leverage the power of the Immortal Dao's Profound Gate to resist the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect.

"Entering the Central Plains? I heard people say this tribulation involves the Profound Gate orchestrating the dynastic transition to establish a new dynasty. Could it be that the Radiant-Sun Demonic Sect wants a hand in this as well? Shouldn't they be supporting the Great-Hong Imperial Dynasty?"

"Who can fathom the minds of the demonic path? Most demonic cultivators within the Great-Hong Imperial Dynasty belong to the Blood-Sea lineage; who knows what the Southern Demonic Sect is thinking?" Jingxuan laughed dismissively and steered the conversation with Qinghong toward other topics.

Before long, Senior Brother Liu Zomo and his junior sister arrived, closely followed by Fairy Yuzhi and her disciples.

Upon seeing the couplet outside the Cloud-Firmament Immortal Abode, the fairy's expression blossomed with brilliance: "What Junior Brother said is quite true—the clouds parting and the mist dispersing is precisely the portent of our Cloud-Firmament Pavilion's resurgence!"

"Clouds part and mist disperses, heavenly dragons present auspiciousness to worship the purple chambers."

"Firmament clears and sun shines bright, the true current of the Great Dao belongs to the Yellow Courtyard."

This couplet accurately reflected the current plight of the Cloud-Firmament Pavilion. The parting of clouds and mist, alongside the clear skies and bright sun, signified that the Cloud-Firmament Pavilion was fated to revive.

"The Pavilion of Cloud Firmament, the true current of the Great Dao." Qinglan remarked, "Senior Brother Qinghong truly possesses magnificent boldness, regarding their Cloud-Firmament Pavilion as the orthodoxy of the Great Dao. Senior Brother, look at yourself—wasting your days wandering about aimlessly. How can our Wuwei Sect ever flourish?"

Liu Zomo smiled awkwardly, not daring to answer Qinglan's words. Compared to him, Qinglan cared far more deeply and acted with much greater enthusiasm for the Wuwei Sect.