Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

Zhang Yuanjing planned to depart for the Candle God Sect within a year or two. Therefore, he simply informed Liu Yuanqing and Su Yuanxiao, and brought his three disciples, along with Zhou Zhengming, who was returning to the mountain gate, to the Xuan Yuan Hall to guide their cultivation.

At the same time, he started refining the益神丹 (Yi Shen Dan, Benefit Spirit Pill) for Huo Zhengkai, Han Ji, Zhang Yu, and Zhou Zhengming.

He also instructed Pan Zhengyu to summon Liu Jinglong and Mei Zhenyi, who had been cultivating in the Xuan Yuan Secret Realm, bestow pills upon them, and instruct them to cultivate in the Zhi Zhi Tower until Fire Crow Daoist emerged from seclusion.

Knowing that Zhang Yuanjing likely had important arrangements to make, the two did not ask further and diligently cultivated alongside Huo Zhengkai and the others.

In this way, more than three months passed. Suddenly, Liu Yuanqing arrived, specifically to inform Zhang Yuanjing about the handling of the sect's internal spy: Song Yuanzhen's identity as a spy was confirmed, and he had been personally executed by Guo Yuanmeng. However, to deceive the Thick Earth Sect, the matter was temporarily kept secret. Tong Zhenren issued a strict order to punish Guo Yuanmeng for his poor judgment and allowing the spy to take advantage, almost leading to disaster. He was imprisoned in the Zhenfeng Valley in the Xuanqing Secret Realm and would not be released for fifty years.

At the same time, Zhang Yuanjing was informed that Huo Tiantong had broken through to the late stage of Core Formation, and Tong Zhenren intended for him to take over the Xuan Yuan Hall to handle matters related to Huan Yue Mountain.

Zhang Yuanjing naturally had no objections. Although Huo Tiantong was smooth, he was conservative in his actions, making him quite suitable to guard Shumi Mountain at this time.

As for Guo Yuanmeng, he was merely used by Song Yuanzhen and did not deserve death. Being imprisoned in Zhenfeng Valley for fifty years was already an extremely severe punishment.

It should be known that in Zhenfeng Valley, a poisonous wind blows all year round, harming both the body and the spirit. Those within must constantly use their magic power to resist it while guarding their minds to prevent the poisonous wind from bewitching their souls. For cultivators, it is an extremely painful torment. Not to mention pseudo-core cultivators, even genuine Core Formation cultivators would find it difficult to endure for fifty years in the valley.

Zhang Yuanjing understood that although this punishment was severe, it also contained the meaning of tempering and forging. If Guo Yuanmeng could persevere in such a harsh environment and advance to Core Formation, his future achievements would be limitless, and he would naturally receive Tong Zhenren's cultivation.

However, this matter had little to do with him anymore. His trip to the Hengduan Mountains was fraught with danger. If he could carve out a world for himself, the Nascent Soul stage would be within reach, so why should he bother with characters like Guo Yuanmeng?

After Liu Yuanqing left, he summoned Zheng Yuandu and conveyed the Zhenren's decision to him. Zheng Yuandu was very surprised and somewhat reluctant.

Zhang Yuanjing managed the Xuan Yuan Hall by grasping the essentials, delegating all minor matters to the various stewards, especially Zheng Yuandu, the chief steward. This gave him a great deal of power, and although he was old, he worked energetically and was always in a good mood. Now that Huo Tiantong was suddenly replacing him, he couldn't help but feel a little lost, seeing the good old days gone forever.

Zhang Yuanjing saw his concerns and suggested that he retire gracefully, request to be transferred to manage a peak in the outer sect, or simply take over an affiliated town of a certain peak in the outer sect. However, this old Daoist of the Yuan generation was somewhat attached to power, stammering that he would first assist Zhang Yuanjing in managing the affairs of the hall, and the rest would be decided in the future.

Zhang Yuanjing did not force him, dismissed him, and then summoned Pan Zhengyu.

"Zhengyu, according to the Zhenren's arrangement, I will be going to the Second Demon Suppression City in the Hengduan Mountains in the near future. This trip may take decades or even longer before I can return. At that time, the position of Hall Master of the Xuan Yuan Hall will be taken over by Elder Huo Tiantong." Zhang Yuanjing cut to the chase and asked directly, "What are your plans?"

This question was quite ambiguous, and there were many possible answers. It was a test for Pan Zhengyu.

Pan Zhengyu had not heard any news beforehand, so he was very surprised, but he reacted quickly. Knowing that this was not the time to clarify the ins and outs of the matter, he quickly made a decision in his heart and said without hesitation, "This subordinate is willing to follow the Elder to the Hengduan Mountains and serve the Elder!"

Zhang Yuanjing smiled and waved his hand, "Don't rush to make a decision. This trip to the Hengduan Mountains is quite dangerous. Think carefully before replying."

Pan Zhengyu said seriously, "There is no need to think further. This disciple was able to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment with the Elder's help. Staying in the Xuan Yuan Hall will not be of much help to my cultivation. It is better to venture into the Hengduan Mountains, and with the Elder's guidance, I may have a chance to glimpse the Core Formation stage in this life."

Zhang Yuanjing nodded slightly, "If that's what you think, then you can go to the Hengduan Mountains."

In the blink of an eye, several months passed. On this day, Yuan Zhilin, who had been in seclusion for several years, emerged. His aura was smooth and restrained, and his cultivation had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. However, he still had not broken through the final barrier and entered the pseudo-core stage.

Zhang Yuanjing sighed secretly, knowing that it would not be easy for Yuan Zhilin to break through to the pseudo-core stage. Relying solely on the益神丹 (Yi Shen Dan, Benefit Spirit Pill) he gave him and the fire-attribute spiritual essence that Fire Crow Daoist obtained at the bottom of Bai Li Mountain was still not enough. He needed to find other opportunities.

Yuan Zhilin was quite open-minded, smiling and saying, "Senior Brother Zhang doesn't need to worry. Breaking through to Core Formation is half cultivation and half opportunity. If the opportunity hasn't arrived, it will ultimately be difficult to succeed. Anyway, I still have several decades to live, so maybe I'll suddenly succeed one day."

Zhang Yuanjing was naturally not concerned about this matter, but rather worried that Fire Crow Daoist would not be able to let go of Yuan Zhilin and would not go to the Candle God Sect. If that were the case, the old Daoist would not even have a sliver of hope of entering the Nascent Soul stage.

He chatted with Yuan Zhilin for a few words, mentioning his upcoming journey. This restless, burly man's eyes immediately lit up. Without even asking where he was going, he couldn't wait to set off.

Another month passed, and Fire Crow Daoist emerged from seclusion. His cultivation had approached perfection, but he was still a line short. He couldn't improve in a hurry, so he stopped wasting his energy.

As soon as he left his residence, he saw that the Zhi Zhi Tower was very lively, with Zhang Yuanjing's disciples and his own disciples all present. The moment he saw Yuan Zhilin, his brows furrowed, and his face instantly turned ugly. After a few breaths, he sighed deeply, but his eyes became extremely firm.

"Yuanjing, has Zhenren Tong already issued an order for you to go to the Hengduan Mountains?" Fire Crow Daoist asked immediately upon seeing Zhang Yuanjing.

Zhang Yuanjing nodded, "That's right, Zhenren Tong does have this intention. However, I have already discussed it with him to go to the Candle Yin Sect with Senior first, and then go to the Second Demon Suppression City in the Hengduan Mountains."

Fire Crow Daoist's expression became solemn, and he said earnestly, "Thank you, Yuanjing, for your concern. I was going to say that if Yuanjing couldn't spare the time, I would go to the Candle Yin Sect myself. I finally created a Nascent Soul-level cultivation method. If it can't be verified, I would be unwilling! If that kid Zhilin was promising, that would be fine, and I would just hand it over to him to carry it forward. Unfortunately, this dullard is really hopeless, so I have to venture into the unknown path myself!"

Zhang Yuanjing was surprised that Yuan Zhilin's failure to break through had instead strengthened Fire Crow Daoist's desire for the Dao. He was very admirable and said, "In that case, let's make some preparations and set off for the Candle God Sect's territory."

After a pause, he added, "However, I don't know how to arrange for the various disciples and followers?"

Fire Crow Daoist pondered for a moment and said, "This trip to the Candle God Sect is fraught with unpredictable fortune, so the younger generation cannot follow. Zhang Yuanjing's disciples are easy to handle, just leave them in the mountain gate. My three disciples, after all, are not from Xuantian and have no foundation here. Just find a place to settle them, and bring them to the Hengduan Mountains together when I return from the Candle Yin Sect. If I don't return from this trip, I will entrust them to Yuanjing, and you can arrange for them yourself."