Chapter 13: The Immortal

About a thousand li south of the only Xia-controlled city, Ten Thousand Swords City, which was under the Ji clan's control, there was a stretch of wilderness and forest, utterly ordinary and unremarkable. Yet at this moment, a massive vortex appeared in the sky above this wilderness. It was a colorful vortex, ten thousand zhang high, affecting the heavens and earth all around.

This enormous colorful vortex was formed by the frenzied gathering of the world's vital energy. Because the vital energy gathered so violently and in such high concentration, it even produced a hazy, seven-colored glow under the rotational pressure. This massive vortex of vital energy also stirred up the vital energy in a wider area, sending violent fluctuations spreading in all directions!

The vortex of vital energy was cone-shaped, with the tip pointing straight down at the ground. It was clear that the source of this vortex was directly beneath the wilderness and forest.

Whoosh!

In one area of the sky, the vital energy trembled, and a man appeared out of thin air. He had loose, flowing hair, wore a black robe embroidered with a strange beast, and a tall crown on his head. His complexion was as fair as jade, and he naturally exuded an air of superiority. He cast his gaze forward, looking from afar at the source pointed to by the massive vortex of vital energy.

Oh? The man in black nodded slightly. Such an unusual phenomenon suggests that a Return to Void Earth Immortal has been achieved! I wonder which faction this newly ascended Earth Immortal belongs to... This is Mount Yan. The major tribes, sects, and schools around Mount Yan are few and far between. The closest is the Heaven Saint Sect! Could it be that a Primordial Spirit Taoist from the Heaven Saint Sect has broken through? But if it were a Primordial Spirit Taoist from the Heaven Saint Sect, there should be protectors around.

As he pondered, he stood silently in the sky, watching.

Once the phenomenon appeared, it meant the other party had already succeeded. It was too late to intervene.

Boom~~~

The massive vortex of vital energy suddenly collapsed, causing a violent tremor in the surrounding vital energy, but it quickly calmed. As the vortex dissipated, a man in a fiery red robe with three giant swords strapped to his back appeared out of thin air. His temples were streaked with white hair, and his gaze swept around like lightning. He soon spotted the man in black standing in the distance.

Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on entering Return to Void and achieving Earth Immortal status! The man in black smiled.

May I ask who you are, fellow Daoist? The red-robed man with three swords asked hastily, not daring to be negligent. He understood that the phenomenon caused by his breakthrough had only appeared for a short while. For someone to sense it and appear here in such a short time, that person's methods were extraordinary.

The man in black smiled. I am Beishan Luoxiao! May I ask who you are, fellow Daoist?

The red-robed man was startled upon hearing this.

Beishan?

Throughout the entire Anchan Commandery, this surname represented the most noble force—the Marquis of Anchan! The Marquis of Anchan was of the Beishan clan! Since the Great Xia Dynasty unified the realm and enfeoffed the lords, the Marquis of Anchan, Beishan clan, had ruled this land. Their foundation was far deeper than any other force in Anchan Commandery. The only one that could contend with them was the Yinglong Guard, representing the Great Xia Dynasty!

The red-robed man's face lit up with joy, and he quickly said, So it's Immortal Luoxiao! I was just thinking that in the land of Anchan Commandery, the only one who could instantly detect this disturbance in vital energy would be the Beishan clan of Anchan! I didn't expect the renowned Immortal Luoxiao to come in person. Compared to Immortal Luoxiao, I am but a junior. My name is probably unknown to you, but I once went by the title of Fire Dragon Daoist. Have you heard of it, Immortal Luoxiao?

The Immortal Luoxiao before him was a Sanxian who had lived for tens of thousands of years. The longer a Sanxian lived, the more formidable they became. Although he was confident he could protect himself in front of Immortal Luoxiao, he knew that in terms of strength, he, a newly ascended Earth Immortal, was probably slightly inferior.

Fire Dragon Daoist? Beishan Luoxiao was taken aback. He really hadn't heard of it. He said, I truly haven't heard of it. You must not have been in the Anchan Commandery area before, fellow Daoist.

I went to the East Sea when I was still a Mortal Immortal. The red-robed man quickly said. I only broke through to the Primordial Spirit stage while adventuring in the East Sea, and that's when I earned the title Fire Dragon Daoist. Since it was in the remote East Sea, it's not surprising you haven't heard of me, Immortal Luoxiao. A hundred years ago, I returned to this land. Perhaps because I was back in my homeland, I felt a stirring, and an opportunity came. I found a place to go into seclusion, and after a hundred years, I broke through today.

Beishan Luoxiao nodded. I see. May I ask where your homeland is, Fire Dragon Daoist?

I am originally from Anchan Commandery. Fire Dragon Immortal said. Unfortunately, my tribe has long been destroyed. To be honest with you, Immortal Luoxiao, I returned this time partly to find the descendants of my tribe and rebuild it, and partly to avenge my tribe.

Hahaha... Beishan Luoxiao laughed heartily. So Fire Dragon Daoist is from Anchan Commandery! Our Anchan Commandery now has another immortal. How delightful! Meeting you today, Fire Dragon Daoist, is fate. As for your matters, they are the affairs of the Marquis of Anchan's estate. Let's not talk here. Come, let's go to Anchan City. Our marquis will surely host a feast to welcome you.

Then I'll gladly accept your kind offer. Fire Dragon Immortal also smiled.

An immortal was certainly worth courting.

Fire Dragon Immortal was in no hurry to pledge allegiance to anyone. He had to see what price the other party was willing to offer. He also knew that this vast land ultimately belonged to the Great Xia Dynasty. To go far and to make his tribe prosper, it was better to align with the Great Xia Dynasty or a deeply rooted feudal lord.

Let's go. Beishan Luoxiao reached out and grasped Fire Dragon Immortal's hand.

Whoosh!

They vanished from the sky.

...

Ten Thousand Swords City was the foundation of the Ji clan. Ji Jiuhuo and Granny Shadow both lived there. The source of the violent fluctuations in vital energy was only a thousand li away from the city. Given their speed, it didn't take long for them to reach the wilderness and forest.

It should be here. Standing on a large gourd were Ji Jiuhuo, Granny Shadow, and an old servant, three in total. Ji Jiuhuo looked down at the wilderness and spoke. But no matter how I look at it, this wilderness seems quite ordinary, nothing special.

I can't see anything either. Granny Shadow and the old servant also looked.

Big brother. Granny Shadow said hoarsely, Let me go down and take a look first. A Xing, you stay here.

Master, I'll go. The old servant said in a low voice, then leaped directly, turning into a streak of light that plunged into the wilderness below.

Granny Shadow was anxious. A Xing!

Wait a moment. Ji Jiuhuo glanced at Granny Shadow. This old servant of yours is truly loyal to you.

The earlier violent fluctuations in vital energy were clearly no small matter. The first to investigate would face great risk. Ji Jiuhuo was the clan leader and the pillar of the Ji clan, so he couldn't afford to take risks. That's why Granny Shadow had offered to go down, but the old servant went first.

In this world, A Xing is the most loyal to me. Granny Shadow said softly.

A moment later—

A figure shot up from below and landed directly on the gourd. It was the old servant in animal skins with disheveled hair. Ji Jiuhuo quickly asked, How is it?

There is a large amount of yuan stones below. The old servant said in a low voice.

A large amount of yuan stones? Ji Jiuhuo frowned. How much? Yuan stones are crystals containing vital energy. However, when a cultivator trains, the amount of vital energy they can refine each day is limited. Once they reach a certain point, they can't absorb any more. Ordinary yuan stones are usually used for setting up formations or making puppets.

As for cultivation? They are not very useful.

Of course, there are some rare treasures that place no burden on the body and can provide the equivalent of ten or even a hundred years of cultivation in one go. Among yuan stones, only high-grade yuan stones have special effects. The vital energy in high-grade yuan stones is very pure, placing little burden on the body when absorbed. Using high-grade yuan stones, one day of cultivation can equal ten ordinary days. But the consumption is also great! Using one or two high-grade yuan stones occasionally is fine, but long-term use requires buying several thousand jin or more to supply a single cultivator.

That was not something the Ji clan could afford.

A lot, a lot. The old servant said solemnly. It should be a yuan stone vein. And from a rough inspection, I've already found high-grade yuan stones.

What? A yuan stone vein? High-grade yuan stones? Ji Jiuhuo was stunned.

A yuan stone vein?

Generally, some special environments can condense into a yuan stone vein. Of course, one can also deliberately refine a vein. To have enough vital energy for his breakthrough, Fire Dragon Immortal had spared no expense in setting up a great formation to gather the surrounding vital energy. Over time, this formed a yuan stone vein.

A yuan stone vein? Granny Shadow also showed joy. Will our Ji clan rise because of this?

Let's go take a look first. Ji Jiuhuo suppressed his excitement, put away the gourd, and the three of them quickly descended into the wilderness, then dove underground to investigate.