Until nightfall descended, Zhang Xian remained in the Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s courtyard annex.

Yun Qi wore a peculiar expression. “Fellow Daoist Zhang, what major business did you discuss with my aunt? She hasn’t spoken to anyone for so long—many years, in fact.”

Lin Yinyin, who was playing a spirit drum, hummed laughingly, “Brother, chatting with the Southern Region’s number one beauty must make you happy, right? Are you reluctant to leave? How beautiful is she?”

Centuries ago, Yun Wanqing was hailed as the Southern Region’s number one beauty. Countless heaven’s favored sons vied for her favor, yet in the end, an unknown rogue cultivator got lucky.

Zhang Xian smiled without speaking. Lin Yinyin plucked at the spirit drum, asking Yun Zhen’er, “Zhen-girl, who do you think is prettier, your mother or me, your sister?”

Yun Zhen’er thought for a moment and said in a soft, sticky voice, “Mmm… Sister is younger.”

“Haha.” Lin Yinyin patted Yun Zhen’er’s head, teasing, “Sister will find your mother another husband, okay?”

“Good! Mother is alone and works hard.” Yun Zhen’er nodded repeatedly, then glanced at Zhang Xian. “But Zhen’er doesn’t want Uncle to be Daddy. Uncle is a good person, but he’s too ugly! He’s not worthy of Mother.”

“Hahaha.” Lin Yinyin laughed even louder.

Zhang Xian’s face darkened.

Early the next morning, Lin Yinyin curled up in Zhang Xian’s arms, her voice soft and tender. “This palace is yours from now on; you must be responsible for me.”

Zhang Xian was helpless. She’s addicted to imitating Yun Wanqing now.

“Yinyin, next month, accompany me to join the Yunmiao Sect.”

Lin Yinyin sat up abruptly, as if she had been recharged, ignoring the sudden exposure of her spring scenery. “Really?! Brother!”

“I’ve already agreed with Pavilion Master Yun; she will recommend us to the Yunmiao Sect’s inner sect. They have complete cultivation techniques and famous masters for guidance. With your Supreme Water Spirit Root, I estimate they will be fighting to take you as a personal disciple.”

“Wu… I don’t want to be a personal disciple. I just want to stay with Brother.”

Thus passed several days. Zhang Xian brought Lin Yinyin and boarded the Yun family’s flying boat.

Yun Qi escorted the two to the gangway, pulling Zhang Xian aside. “Everything is arranged properly. The flying boat will pass by the Yunmiao Sect, and someone will receive you there.”

“Also, the cabin room’s soundproofing formation has been specially repaired. Fellow Daoist Zhang, rest assured this time.”

Overhearing this, Lin Yinyin immediately blushed crimson.

Zhang Xian coughed twice. “Also, remember to keep those pills for me; they are very expensive.”

“I know, I know. Our Cloud Raiment Pavilion will take the blame for you.”

“Oh, and about the flying boat. I asked your aunt earlier, and she said there is a type of small flying boat that costs about four million mid-grade spirit stones. Help me order one. I want it fast, stable, soundproofed, with defensive formations, and puppet controls.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Qi’s head swelled, and he shook it repeatedly. “You’re not really buying it, are you? I thought you were joking! As a dignified Grand Internal Affairs Commander, where would I find the time to supervise work for you? Flying boats are troublesome; I have to coordinate with so many mechanism sects. No time, no time.”

“I can add twenty percent as a supervision fee. This is the deposit.”

Smack!

Zhang Xian slammed down a large chest. Yun Qi waved his long robe, and the chest vanished as if it had never appeared.

“Please elaborate on your requirements. Within a year, I will personally deliver the flying boat to your door.”

Yunmiao Sect, Ascending Immortal Gate.

A winding queue perennially stretched out, extending for hundreds of miles as disciples sought to join the sect.

Someone specially calculated the statistics: every year, the number of disciples seeking immortality at the Yunmiao Sect reached one hundred thousand, yet only a little over a hundred were admitted. This number included outer sect disciples and registered disciples. Even with such slim chances, the number of people seeking immortality only increased every year.

“Wow! What is that?” A cry of amazement erupted from the crowd, spreading for dozens of miles.

“A flying boat! Holy crap, it’s huge!”

“A spreading blue luan carved with the character ‘Cloud’—it’s the Cloud Raiment Pavilion’s flying boat!”

“This is what I call f*cking cultivating immortality!”

“I must join the Yunmiao Sect! I want to fly a boat too!”

“Wake up, Fellow Daoist. Even if you enter the Yunmiao Sect, you won’t be flying a boat.”

Lin Yinyin watched the dense mass of tiny dots below, thinking that if she hadn’t met Brother Zhang Xian, she probably would have been one of those people in the crowd.

At the end of the line of dots sat a floating mountain peak. Pavilions and towers appeared faintly at the summit, glowing with a soft golden light under the morning sun.

“Is that the Yunmiao Sect?”

“That is the Yunmiao Sect’s Outer Sect Mountain Gate, specifically for receiving prospective disciples,” spoke a middle-aged man with a steady appearance, an internal affairs deacon of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion. “The true mountain gate is still behind it.”

Following the deacon’s pointing finger, as the flying boat moved forward, the clouds and mist gradually receded. A magnificent aura descended from the nine heavens, like an immortal brushing their sleeve to clear away ten thousand miles of vastness.

Peaks stood suspended in the void, their bodies white as jade with rosy light flowing hidden within. At the summits, jade towers layered upon each other. At the base of the peaks, countless white jade rainbow bridges spanned the void.

At the highest point, on the main peak, a glazed immortal palace stood majestically. The palace gate plaque bore four characters written in celestial script: “Yunmiao Heavenly Palace,” the strokes sharp as swords.

Such a towering sight left Lin Yinyin somewhat stunned.

So beautiful!

She glanced at Zhang Xian beside her, only to see him standing with a calm face and a faint smile.

Brother is so steady, so handsome. Lin Yinyin’s small face turned red again.

Actually, Zhang Xian was no less shocked than she was. The true imagery of an immortal sect was countless times more magnificent and spectacular than any TV screen from his past life. However, he had to maintain his persona as the spokesperson for a minor world.

“Not bad. It has the flavor of an immortal sect.”

The flying boat slowly descended onto a platform. Several disciples dressed in moon-white long robes had been waiting for a long time. Seeing the flying boat land, a female cultivator with delicate features stepped forward and bowed with cupped hands.

“Are you the esteemed guests of the Cloud Raiment Pavilion?”

Zhang Xian nodded, took out the token Yun Wanqing had given him, and handed it to her. The female cultivator took it, looked at it, and her expression instantly became several degrees more respectful.

“So it is Elder Nangong’s guests. Please follow me.”

Lin Yinyin tugged quietly at Zhang Xian’s sleeve and whispered, “Brother Zhang Xian, who is Elder Nangong? Do you know her?”

“I don’t know her. She’s a friend of Pavilion Master Yun.”

Inside the Yunmiao Sect’s inner gate, spiritual mist swirled, and immortal cranes circled overhead.

The reception female cultivator led the two through layers of restrictions, finally stopping in front of an exquisite courtyard.

“Please rest here for now. Elder Nangong is not in the sect these days. Other elders have been arranged for you two; you will meet them tomorrow.”

After the female cultivator left, Lin Yinyin finally couldn’t hold back. she spun around the courtyard, exclaiming, “The spiritual energy here is so dense! It’s not much worse than the spiritual energy from our Spirit Gathering Array!”

Zhang Xian looked at the scene before him. One hundred years. I never thought I would really have the chance to stand here.

The scene of heavenly fire falling on the small mountain village a hundred years ago was vivid in his mind. That was the moment his destiny changed.

Is the little black girl here? How has she been these years?

And Nangong Yao, you bitch!! I’m fcking here!*