Chapter 156: A Normal World of Immortality

Chapter 156: A Normal World of Immortal Dao

Looking at the imperial chariot of Immortal Tai'er, he could not help but recall Senior Sister Yunruo, who had faked her death beneath the heavenly tribulation back in the day.

Originally, it could have been a magnificent spectacle worth watching for millions of years, but because the main characters were utterly unworthy, it had ended in a hasty anticlimax.

Recalling the absurd events of yesteryear, Luo Feng shook his head with a knowing smile, feeling a deep sense of regret.

The imperial chariot of the Tai'er Sect was unpretentious yet grand, drawn by twin-winged silver-white pegasi and a three-headed lion of azure illumination and profound night. The former could be considered middle-tier among primordial spiritual species, renowned for its speed, while the latter was a genuine primordial exotic beast and part of the Tai'er Sect’s lineage of guardian divine beasts.

However, compared to the primordial flood dragons, they fell far, far behind.

In ancient times, the dragon clan was hailed as innate divine beasts and stood as one of the overlords of the primordial world. Even though they were now weakened and no longer steered the winds and clouds, having retreated to the four seas, they might outwardly seem inconspicuous.

Yet, comparison between people could infuriate someone, and comparison of goods would make one want to discard them.

Weakness had to be judged by context. Compared to the orthodox Heavenly Court of the Three Realms, the dragon clan was merely a minor vassal state; compared to the Kunlun Taoist gates and the countless immortals, the dragon clan was reduced to being a mount and a younger brother; compared to the boundless Buddhas of Buddhism, the dragon clan was nothing more than a muscle-bound enforcer.

However, when compared to the myriad other races of the primordial world, the dragon clan remained a gathering place of Da Luo powerhouses and innate divine beasts—an undisputed tyrant of the primordial world!

To the Da Luo, the dragons were merely a matter of modest interest and a small, achievable goal.

Yet to ordinary mortals and races, they remained forever out of reach.

Nine vast celestial flood dragons pulled the carriage as it slowly drew closer, their immortal aura condensing and dispersing without breaking. Even without launching a proactive attack, they emanated a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

The three-headed lion of azure illumination and profound night turned its heads in solemn vigilance, its three skulls swaying and gazing about. As for the twin-winged pegasi flanking the carriage, they were in an even more pathetic state, their four legs trembling as if they were about to collapse to the ground.

Amidst this atmosphere, it was uncertain which disciple snapped out of a dreamlike trance, hastily dropping to their knees and crying out loudly, "This disciple pays respects to the Sect Master!"

Like a single stone causing a thousand ripples, voices rang out one after another in an endless stream.

"Paying respects to the Alliance Leader..."
"Paying respects to the Grand Uncle-Master..."
"Humbly welcoming the Sect Master..."

The carriage rolled leisurely onward as the flood dragons drove forward. This time, their aura stabilized, feeling as gentle as a spring breeze, with wisps of immortal Qi nourishing body and soul.

It was none other than the Sect Master of the Tai'er Sect, the leader of the Xuanyuan Alliance, the Heavenly Court's Water Virtue Star Lord, and Daoist Tianyi who had descended.

In an instant, the disciples of the Tai'er Sect seemed to find their backbone, stepping forward one after another to pay homage.

"Disciples, dispense with the formalities. I shall accompany you all to the Huaqing Dharma Assembly."

A gentle, jade-like voice echoed from within the flood dragon chariot, accompanied by a soft, uplifting force that naturally raised the multitude of disciples to their feet.

"We obey the supreme decree!"
The disciples chorused in unison.

***

Meanwhile, from the not-too-distant imperial chariot of Immortal Tai'er, an aged and magnanimous laughter rang out.

"My qilin-like prodigy has arrived. Come aboard."

Luo Feng leaned out slightly, offering a faint smile as he cupped his hands and said, "It has been many years since we last met, Ancestor. I have missed you dearly. With the Huaqing Dharma Assembly now upon us, it is indeed time for us to converse."

With a single step forward, starlight flashed across the void as he descended directly into the micro-space within Immortal Tai'er's imperial chariot.

To outsiders, this painted a picture of a virtuous master and a dutiful disciple interacting in perfect harmony.

The disciples of the Tai'er Sect wore radiant smiles on their faces, steering their immortal boats, dharma artifacts, jade palaces, and dragon-drawn carriages toward the Huaqing Grotto-heaven.

Inside the interior space of the chariot, however, the atmosphere instantly grew awkward.

What was there to talk about?
Immortal Tai'er's cross-dressing fetish? Or Luo Feng's shamelessness in playing the pig to eat the tiger?

Any of these topics were prone to killing the conversation instantly.

Nothing was more terrifying than a sudden, heavy silence. Luo Feng sat quietly with a half-smile, while Immortal Tai'er maintained a demeanor of immortal bones and transcendent grace, sitting cross-legged in silence with his eyes focused on his nose and his nose on his heart.

It looked very much as though he intended to remain completely mute all the way to the Huaqing Grotto-heaven.

Ultimately, Luo Feng gave a light cough and broke the silence. "Ancestor is the founder of our Tai'er Sect, a person of towering virtue and unblemished morality..."

"In the days ahead, I must ask Ancestor to continue bestowing your care and effort upon the Xuanyuan Alliance."

Immortal Tai'er's eyelids twitched slightly. He caught the subtext hidden within Luo Feng's words.

Everything that happened previously would be written off.

Whether it was Immortal Tai'er testing him in women's attire or questions regarding Luo Feng's cultivation level and whether he had concealed anything—all of it would be completely wiped clean.

The two of them were getting a fresh start, which would allow any subsequent topics to be discussed smoothly.

Since Luo Feng had taken a step back, Immortal Tai'er was not someone who did not know what was good for him.

As for Luo Feng's true identity and whether he was a transmigrator, it no longer mattered. What mattered was his current identity: the Heavenly Court's Water Virtue Star Lord and the bridge connecting the Tai'er Sect to the Heavenly Court.

With a slight flicker of his thoughts, Immortal Tai'er made a promise, smiling faintly, "Rest assured, Sect Master. With me here, the Xuanyuan Alliance will come to no harm. As for Ancestor Huaqing, I shall put in a few good words on your behalf."

Luo Feng nodded inwardly, silently sighing that the old fox was truly shrewd.

Immortal Tai'er's words were watertight. If Luo Feng truly possessed the cultivation of a Golden Immortal, then it meant their side had been in the wrong first, and Immortal Tai'er would simply assist as a fellow Golden Immortal. If Luo Feng truly was a pristine novice Earth Immortal, then he would use his reputation as the venerable Earth Immortal master of the Tai'er Sect to intercede with Ancestor Huaqing.

In a single sentence, there were two distinct meanings.

Regardless of the specifics, however, Immortal Tai'er had made a promise. This was a good beginning—the start of sincere cooperation.

And so, Luo Feng smiled, and Immortal Tai'er smiled as well, as if everything was resolved in their shared laughter.

***

As for what they were actually laughing about, only the two of them knew.

The laughter drifted out of the carriage, leaving the numerous attendant disciples and subordinates utterly bewildered, clueless as to what had just transpired.

Even so, they puffed out their chests and raised their heads with expressions of boundless excitement.

The Ancestor and the Sect Master shared a harmonious relationship, loving one another like members of the same family—this was clearly the auspicious precursor to the great prosperity of their sect!

As the saying went: to pacify the external threats, one must first settle the internal affairs!

***

Within the Huaqing Grotto-heaven, people came and went in a constant stream. Immortals chatted and laughed together, free from cumbersome etiquette. Earth immortals and celestial immortals, who were usually exceedingly rare and precious, gathered here in droves. Even accomplished celestial immortals and mighty figures who had half a step into the Golden Immortal realm hurried over to witness Ancestor Huaqing's Dao-proclamation.

Part of this was due to Ancestor Huaqing's personal connections and network of favors, while another portion had come uninvited, hoping to curry favor with a future Golden Immortal. Most, however, had come to absorb the insights of this Dao-proclamation to pave the way for their own future paths of cultivation.

Space twisted and fluctuated, sending ripples outward as the flood dragon chariot, jade palaces, and immortal boats leaped across the void and entered the Grotto-heaven.

A Daoist of the Primordial Spirit realm hurried forward to welcome them, while the Tai'er Sect similarly dispatched a Primordial Spirit Daoist to step up and exchange pleasantries.

The Seven Xuanyuan Sects were already allies, so this was merely going through the motions.

A moment later, the welcoming herald's loud voice rang out in song:

"Immortal Tai'er of the Tai'er Sect atop the Xuanyuan Divine Mountain, along with Immortal Tianyi, have arrived to observe the ceremony!"

Instantly, the tolling of bells resounded melodiously, echoing throughout the entire Grotto-heaven.

Quite a few immortals cast sideways glances, but upon seeing that they were merely two aged earth immortals without even a celestial immortal among them, they quickly withdrew their gazes and went back to their own business.

Observing the bustling crowd of immortals coming and going, Immortal Tai'er, clad in a white cloud-patterned Daoist robe, flicked his horsetail whisk and smiled faintly, "Wherever one looks there are immortals, and casual conversations are held with divine sacreds. The Huaqing Dharma Assembly is certainly lively."

Luo Feng surveyed his surroundings and nodded in agreement. It was indeed exceptionally lively.

Moreover, this was a low-tier match; everyone present was either an Earth Immortal or a Celestial Immortal, with the highest being merely an accomplished Celestial Immortal or a half-step Golden Immortal.

It gave Luo Feng—someone battle-hardened and accustomed to chatting and laughing casually with Da Luo beings and Great Divine Powerholders—a surreal sense of spatial dislocation.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly:

"This is what a normal world of Immortal Dao should look like. This is what normal social interactions among people are supposed to be."

Look at what he used to play with: all sorts of ancient schemers, hundreds of millions of years of open and hidden plots, where Da Luo beings stepped onto the stage at every turn and Great Divine Powerholders made personal moves, living in constant terror of stumbling into some ancient, eternal layout one day.

That was simply no way for an immortal to live!

[Time to sleep, still have to clock in on DingTalk tomorrow.]
(End of this chapter)